Justice Minister Calls for Reform in Child Detention System

During the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held from August 21 to 28 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed that approximately 26,000 children enter custodial and remand facilities in Nigeria each year. She noted that 74 percent of these minors are held in pre-trial detention, and 68 percent do not have legal representation from their first contact with the justice system.

Her address emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt diversion policies for children in conflict with the law, as outlined in the Child Rights Act and the 2024 Prosecution Guidelines. Ben Odoh, the Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice in Ebonyi State, stated that the issue lies not in the absence of legal provisions but in their application.

He highlighted that prosecution should be a last resort for non-serious cases and mentioned five diversion measures provided in Section 209 of the Child Rights Act.