In a bid to shore up public trust in Nigeria’s judiciary and ensure speedy justice, the Cleen Foundation has concluded a three-day training program for media practitioners.
The initiative, described by Programme Director Salaudeen Hashim as a “stopgap measure,” aims to combat a clear “awareness deficit among citizens” and systemic non-compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) by state actors.
Hashim stated the Foundation has “noticed very clearly” that the spirit of the ACJL is being undermined in implementation, a situation exacerbated by “institutional stereotyping within the judicial sector.” He identified the media as the “most strategic medium” to pump up citizen awareness and drive reform, urging journalists to maintain a spotlight on the justice system while avoiding the pitfalls of politicized “media trials.”
The event also featured the unveiling of a new quarterly policy brief, which catalogs the Foundation’s findings across 12 states.
Hashim explained this brief will serve as a public “scorecard” for the next three years, tracking quick wins, persistent challenges, and the performance of states in response to advocacy.
He particularly called on young journalists to reject being on “the payroll of the political class,” advising them to invest in knowledge and uphold professionalism for the greater good.
This push for robust criminal justice administration finds a direct and urgent parallel in the fight against gender-based violence.
In a goodwill message, the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Zone A has appealed for the decisive implementation of ACJ laws to secure justice for victims of violence against women and girls.
Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu, Zonal Secretary for NAWOJ Northwest, highlighted the severe barriers victims face, including social pressure to treat assaults as “family issues” and fear of having their lives “tarnished.”
She lamented that many victims “don’t even have the flair, the oath to speak out that they have been violated.”
Aliyu called for a united front, urging society, NGOs, and all tiers of government to collaborate effectively to ensure perpetrators are dealt with decisively. She affirmed that although the annual 16 Days of Activism has concluded, NAWOJ is “not resting on our horse” in the pursuit of justice.