Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS)

Established in 2006, the CSLS has been focused on criminal justice reform since then. It spearheaded the development of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which has been hailed as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s justice sector. Since the passage of the ACJA, the Center has worked relentlessly to push for its adoption by the various states of the Federation. The Center provided technical assistance to Kaduna, Plateau, Adamawa. Kano, Ondo and Nasarawa States in developing their administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJLs). The CSLS has served as Consultant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) and has trained over 2000 persons drawn from investigators, Prosecutors, Magistrates, Judges, Court Registrars and Administrators as well as defence lawyers. In 2019, the Center issued a paper titled ‘The Ideal Court Registry’ on the Role of Court Registrars and Administrators in implementing the ACJA, 2015 and the ACJLs of the various states of the Federation. The Center is currently implementing a project aimed at establishing National Minimum Standards (NMS) on the implementation of the ACJA/ACJLs. The major strength we bring into this INL project is our expertise in criminal justice reform and the strong network of partners in the criminal justice institutions which we have cultivated over the years. Our organization possesses the experience and high-level contacts in the sector, needed to assist in delivering this project timeously.