Civil Society Raises Alarm Over Slow Implementation of Benue Criminal Justice Law
Seven Years After ACJL 2019, Key Provisions Yet to Be Fully Operationalised
By Our Reporter In Makurdi
Civil society organisations have expressed concern over the slow and poor implementation of the Benue State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019, seven years after its enactment.
The Justice and Rights Initiative (JRI), in partnership with the Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS), made the concern public during a press briefing on Friday in Makurdi.
Speaking at the event, Barr Solomon Torluam, Acting Executive Director of JRI, highlighted that while advocacy efforts led to the domestication of the law in 2019, compliance among key criminal justice stakeholders remains weak.
Torluam revealed that recent assessment visits showed that critical provisions of the ACJL are yet to be fully operationalised across the state’s criminal justice system. He noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, tasked with overseeing implementation, is currently inactive due to inadequate funding.
The civil society leader also pointed out major institutional gaps in the Nigerian Correctional Service in Benue, including the non-establishment of Community Service Centres and rehabilitation facilities, the absence of a functional Parole Board or Committee, and the lack of funding for the Non-Custodial Service Centre.
“These shortcomings reflect a broader lack of government commitment to fully implement the ACJL, as evidenced by persistent funding constraints,” Torluam said.
He stressed that effective media engagement is essential for achieving the law’s objectives, noting that sustained coverage could enhance public awareness, educate citizens on their rights, and promote transparency in the justice system.
Torluam further called on media and stakeholders to intensify collaboration toward ensuring full implementation of the ACJL, emphasising that public engagement and adequate government funding are critical to realising the reform goals embedded in the 2019 law.
