Kurawa Attorneys and Associates has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, urging investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary and private legal practitioners to strengthen collaboration, uphold professional ethics and ensure timely access to justice for all citizens.
The call was made at a two-day training programme on the Effective Administration of Criminal Justice: The Central Role of Prosecutors, Investigators and the Judiciary, in Kano, organised by Kurawa Attorneys and Associates to improve professional practice, address delays in criminal trials and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
Speaking at the programme, the convener, Sadiq Sabo Kurawa, said the workshop was designed to promote a justice system in which every citizen, irrespective of social or economic status, could obtain justice in accordance with the law.
Kurawa said stronger collaboration among investigators, prosecutors, judicial officers and private legal practitioners was essential to ensuring speedy, fair and accessible justice
Kurawa noted that the administration of criminal justice was not the responsibility of legal practitioners and judicial officers alone, but a matter that directly affected the entire society.
“Any society that is lawless is a chaotic society,” he said, stressing the need to strengthen justice institutions to ensure that citizens have confidence in government and the rule of law.
He expressed concern over prison congestion and the prolonged detention of suspects awaiting trial, particularly cases in which suspects allegedly remain in custody for several months without legal advice or being arraigned before a court.
Kurawa urged private legal practitioners to embrace pro bono services to assist indigent suspects who cannot afford legal representation, noting that although legal aid services exist, the demand for assistance remains enormous.
He also called on prosecutors in the Ministries of Justice and police investigators to demonstrate greater diligence in handling criminal cases, stressing that professional conduct and effective coordination were essential to preventing unnecessary delays and protecting the rights of suspects.
The Kano Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Friday Ebelo, also emphasised the importance of cooperation among investigators, prosecutors and the judiciary, while maintaining the independence of each institution.
Ebelo explained that investigators must gather credible and reliable evidence, prosecutors must objectively determine whether cases should proceed to trial, and judges must evaluate the evidence and deliver fair decisions in accordance with the law.
He said, “The investigators, the prosecutors and the judiciary are one body that forms the justice system,” adding that effective cooperation must not undermine the independence of any of the institutions.
The EFCC official identified professional training, ethical standards, forensic investigation, digital evidence collection, effective case management and adequate institutional resources as essential measures for strengthening the justice system.
He called for the adoption of modern technology in criminal investigations and court proceedings, while cautioning that technological advancement must respect individual privacy and other fundamental rights.
According to him, the protection of witnesses, whistleblowers, victims and investigators is equally important, alongside transparent procedures and accountability mechanisms capable of addressing corruption, misconduct and abuse of authority.
Ebelo stressed that efforts to accelerate criminal trials must not compromise fairness, declaring that “speed without fairness becomes an oppression.”
He maintained that the ultimate objective of criminal justice reforms should be to protect society, ensure accountability for offenders, safeguard innocent persons and sustain public trust in justice institutions.
In his remarks, the Kano State Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, represented by a Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Ado Gaya, underscored the importance of effective criminal justice administration to national development and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Garo reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the justice sector and improving the administration of justice.
In a virtual presentation, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, spoke on Institutional Integrity, Accountability and Public Trust in the Justice System.
Jega identified fairness, equality before the law, timely trials, access to justice, judicial independence and institutional accountability as critical foundations for building public confidence in the justice system.
He recommended ethical leadership, sustained capacity building and merit-based recruitment and appointments across justice institutions to strengthen professionalism and institutional integrity.
The former INEC chairman also advocated judicial independence supported by fair, timely and credible disciplinary procedures, increased investment in digital justice systems and measures to make justice more accessible and affordable to vulnerable groups.
He further called for continuous reforms, periodic reviews of codes of conduct and stronger protection of the rights of accused persons.
The training brought together judges and magistrates, prosecutors, police and anti-corruption investigators, legal practitioners, academics and other justice-sector stakeholders.
It featured expert presentations, inter-agency discussions and practical case studies aimed at clarifying the complementary responsibilities of justice-sector institutions, improving evidence handling and identifying practical solutions to delays in criminal proceedings.
Participants are expected to develop recommendations that will promote better coordination, strengthen professional standards and ensure that criminal cases are handled efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law.
The programme reaffirmed the importance of a justice system that balances the need to combat crime with the protection of fundamental rights, ensuring that justice is delivered promptly without compromising due process or the presumption of innocence.