The Federal Government is currently reviewing extant laws and policies to include alternative and non-custodial sentences for child offenders.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made the disclosure Thursday while speaking at the project launch of the EU-UNICEF access to justice programme for children on the move and other vulnerable children and inauguration of the Justice for children Coordination Forum. It was organized by the Justice Ministry in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and UNICEF.
Malami was represented by the Special Assistant to the President on Research and Special Duties, office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Professor Muhammad Lawal Ahmadu.
Malami recalled that the Ministry in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had reviewed and upgraded the FCT Custodial and Non-Custodial Sentencing Practice Directions to include non-custodial and alternative measures to detention in cases of minor offences by adult offenders.
According to Malami, “Towards the reformation of the juvenile Justice system, the Federal Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the Nigeria Law Reform Commission will review the Borstal Institutions Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“A major reason for the proposed review is to bring the Act in conformity with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.”
He expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its thoughtful initiative – Access to Justice Programme targeted at Children on the move and Other Vulnerable Children, adding that the project has added a great value to Nigeria’s Justice Sector architecture.
Malami said through age and gender-sensitive juvenile justice mechanisms and alternatives to detention for children on the move and vulnerable children, the Nigeria child would benefit from the child-friendly justice sector.
The Minister lamented the pathetic situation of some children saying that “this administration will continue to do its best in the protection of the rights of children and vulnerable persons”.
He disclosed that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice currently engages respective Heads of Courts to establish Specialized Courts for the speedy and seamless trial of Rape/Gender-Based Violence Offences in the country.
According to him it is hoped that these specialized courts will fast track such cases and result in justice for child victims of sexual violence.
The Forum chaired by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice has representatives from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Humanitrian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the Nigerian Police Force.
Other Members of the Forum were drawn from Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, National Human Right Commission, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and University of Abuja.
Also included as members of the Forum were representatives from Buni Yadi Foundation, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, FIDA, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Judiciary Institute, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCR).
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Kano, Sagir Umar revealed that ‘In Kano alone as per statistics about two years back we have 3. 2 Million out of school children wondering about, some hawking, begging, truants, drug addiction etc.
“In 2018, 1,142 cases were reported at Waraka SARC, while in 2019 741 cases were received and only 194 were disposed of because of the high demand nature of proving the offence and stigma associated with offence.”
