As Nigeria’s judiciary ushered in the 2025/2026 legal year, an international justice group, Zarephath Aid, has set a bold agenda for stakeholders in the justice sector, urging them to confront deep-seated systemic challenges that continue to undermine the judiciary’s credibility and deny citizens access to real justice.

Speaking at a media conference in Lagos, the group’s founder, Ben Abraham, Esq., said that while the ceremonies marking the new legal year were rich in pomp, pageantry, and speeches highlighting achievements, they would remain meaningless to ordinary Nigerians unless the judiciary addresses critical concerns such as unlawful detentions, police brutality, child rights violations, prison congestion, and misuse of the Cybercrimes Act.

According to Abraham, Nigerians eagerly await the day when they can touch justice, or put differently, the day justice can touch them.

“It is for these and other Nigerians that we make this call on our courts and judiciary heads in various tiers of our judiciary.”

The group emphasised that real progress in the justice system must not be measured by ceremonial events or promises but by concrete actions that make justice accessible, fair, and impactful for citizens.

Judiciary urged to enforce oversight and protect rights

A central point of Zarephath Aid’s agenda for stakeholders in the justice sector is the urgent need to strengthen judicial oversight over law enforcement agencies. Abraham highlighted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015 and corresponding state laws require judicial officers to conduct monthly visits to police detention centres and submit oversight reports to Chief Judges and Attorneys-General.

In his words, “This oversight responsibility has been lacking in many states and at the federal level,” Abraham noted.

“The result is the illegal detention of persons and abuse of the rights of suspects.”

Zarephath Aid called for the judiciary to enforce these oversight provisions strictly, ensure accountability among law enforcement agencies, and uphold citizens’ fundamental rights. Without such checks, the justice system risks eroding public trust and failing in its constitutional duty.

Another major concern raised by the non-profit organisation is the persistent failure of the justice system to protect children and enforce the Child Rights Act.

Abraham lamented that in many states, the law “exists only on paper” without the institutional structures needed to safeguard children or provide justice when they come into conflict with the law.

“Children are often lumped together with adults in detention facilities, exposing them to abuse,” he said.

“Trials involving underage offenders are unnecessarily delayed due to logistics failures, with families forced to pay heavily just to have them transported to court.”

The group urged stakeholders in the justice sector to prioritise the creation of child-sensitive legal frameworks, establish appropriate detention and rehabilitation facilities, and fast-track juvenile justice processes to prevent further rights violations.

Police brutality, prison congestion, and cybercrime law

The rising wave of police brutality remains a major concern, with Zarephath Aid warning that unchecked abuse by security forces could trigger public unrest.

Abraham criticised the police’s internal disciplinary mechanisms as ineffective, noting that many officers accused of torture, extortion, and unlawful arrests go unpunished.

“If the courts fail to leash this errancy, another uprising will be upon us sooner than later,” he warned.

“The civic space is shrinking daily, with police often acting on behalf of the executive to silence activists, journalists, and critics of government.”

Despite numerous initiatives, Nigeria’s correctional facilities remain severely overcrowded, with thousands of inmates languishing in custody for years without trial.

Zarephath Aid urged the judiciary to conduct a comprehensive audit of correctional centres to identify inmates and track the status of their cases.

“The judiciary must work with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and state-level criminal justice sector reform committees to tackle this crisis,” Abraham said.

The group also raised concerns about the growing misuse of the Cybercrimes Act 2024 to suppress dissent and silence government critics.

According to Abraham, many of the criminal charges filed under the Act are politically motivated, targeting journalists, activists, and opposition figures.

“As long as our courts accommodate this undue interference and fail to halt the surge against citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, the Act will remain a tool for harassment,” he warned.

Zarephath Aid calls for action beyond rhetoric

In conclusion, Zarephath Aid urged stakeholders in the justice sector to move beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible reforms that will restore public confidence in the judiciary and strengthen democracy.

“We respectfully invite the media to join us as we set this agenda for the judiciary and monitor their performance in the next one year,” Abraham said.

“The pomp of the new legal year will only matter when Nigerians can feel justice in their daily lives.”