Taraba Judiciary Unveils 2025 Criminal Justice Practice Direction to Speed Up Trials, Safeguard Citizens’ Rights
The Taraba State Judiciary has adopted a new Administration of Criminal Justice Law Practice Direction 2025, a move the Chief Judge, Justice Joel Agya, described as “a decisive step towards a faster, fairer and more accountable justice system.”
Justice Agya, who spoke in Jalingo at a one-day validation meeting convened in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, on Wednesday, said the reform would modernise criminal trials and protect citizens’ rights.
“This exercise represents a significant step towards entrenching a criminal justice system that is efficient, fair, and consistent with the rule of law,” the CJ said.
He stressed that the practice direction would not only strengthen Taraba’s judicial processes but also serve as a model for other states.
“We look forward to collaborating with NIALS on digital transformation initiatives, with particular focus on leveraging technology to improve efficiency and transparency in our courts,” Agya added.
The CJ commended NIALS for its “unwavering dedication to the development of law and legal institutions in Nigeria,” describing the institute’s contribution to legal scholarship as an “enduring legacy that enriches the justice system and strengthens the fabric of society.”
On his part, the Director-General of NIALS, Prof. Abdulqudri Abikan, said the institute was providing technical support to the Taraba Judiciary as part of nationwide reforms.
“We have so far supported 20 states to adopt the new practice. The aim is to jointly evolve an acceptable and sustainable order that reflects the peculiarities of each state,” he said.
Prof. Abikan disclosed that NIALS, with funding support from the MacArthur Foundation, would print 200 copies of the adopted practice direction for distribution across Taraba courts.
Our correspondent reports that stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice, the High Court, Magistrates, the Nigerian Bar Association, the police, the Correctional Service, and court registrars attended the session.
