AGF seeks states’ support for anti-corruption efforts.

AGF seeks states’ support for anti-corruption efforts.

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has urged states to develop measures to complement efforts by the Federal Government and its agencies to curb corruption.

He spoke in Abuja yesterday at the opening of a three-day stakeholders’ forum on the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.

It was organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) and other groups in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Fagbemi said: “Another issue of critical importance is the challenge of mainstreaming anti-corruption principles within all sectors of the criminal justice system and into subnational public administration. 

“One of the lessons learnt from the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2022 is the need to ensure that the strategy is adopted and driven at the subnational level

“This is a move away from current efforts by anti-corruption strategies being driven solely by law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal level.”

Fagbemi, who expressed delight that the 36 states have enacted their versions of the Administration of Criminal Justice law, noted that the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in 2015 has thrown up some issues that need to be addressed.

He added that the last amendment to the Constitution – Fifth Alteration (No. 15) Act of 2023, which deleted the legislative item “prisons” from the Exclusive Legislative List, re-designated it as “Correctional Services” and re-categorised it as a legislative item under the Concurrent Legislative List, has made it imperative for state legislative houses to develop more interest in issues affecting the correctional centres.

“The effect of these constitutional changes is that the Houses of Assemblies of the various States of the Federation can now make laws for their respective states in matters pertaining to Correctional Services. 

“It has, therefore, become imperative to properly address issues arising directly from these constitutional changes.

“Central among these issues is the need for expedited collaboration and coordination between the respective states of the Federation and the Nigerian Correctional Service, for the purpose of ensuring proper structuration and delineation of responsibilities on custodial and other correctional matters. 

“This will help in tackling issues of custodial rights and related 

correctional policies and its challenges,” Fagbemi said.