By Solomon OKPO
UYO, In a significant step towards improving the administration of justice in Akwa Ibom State, the CLEEN Foundation has commenced a two-day capacity-strengthening workshop aimed at equipping policing, law enforcement, and judicial stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to implement the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) effectively.
The workshop, held at Havilah Towers Hotel in Uyo, is part of a broader project titled “Strengthening Right-Based Approach to ACJA Frameworks and Advancing Women, Peace, and Security in Nigeria”, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria.
Delivering the opening remarks, Mr. Peter Maduoma, Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of the initiative. According to Maduoma, the ACJL, enacted in Akwa Ibom in 2022, was designed to promote a more transparent, fair, and efficient criminal justice system. However, challenges such as limited funding, lack of operational resources, and capacity gaps among key stakeholders have hampered its implementation.
“To enhance the efficacy of this law, it is crucial to develop the competencies of stakeholders and establish monitoring mechanisms for sustained compliance,” Maduoma stated.
The workshop aims to deepen participants’ technical understanding of the law, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and develop actionable strategies to address systemic issues like custodial congestion, trial delays, and human rights violations.
The four key objectives of the workshop include:
1. Enhancing stakeholders’ understanding of the ACJL provisions in Akwa Ibom;
2. Building practical skills for monitoring and evaluating compliance;
3. Establishing frameworks for consistent, rights-based law enforcement;
4. Tackling systemic challenges within the justice system.
CLEEN Foundation is implementing this project across 12 states, including Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Jigawa, Adamawa, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom, following a national launch in Abuja on August 26, 2025.
Now in its 27th year, CLEEN Foundation continues its mission of promoting public safety, security, and social justice in Nigeria and beyond through research, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
The workshop marks a critical moment in Akwa Ibom’s justice reform efforts and underscores the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that legal reforms translate into real-world impact for citizens.
