CLEEN Foundation Host Two Day Intensive Capacity Strengthtening Training in Akwa Ibom to Bolster Criminal Justice Reform.
By Raymond Enoch
The CLEEN Foundation has commenced a two-day intensive capacity-strengthening workshop for policing, law enforcement, and judicial stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, aimed at advancing the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state. The event, which kicked off on Monday, 20th October 2025 at Havilah Towers Hotel, Uyo, is a critical component of a nationwide 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.
Speaking at the opening, Mr. Peter Maduoma, Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the organization’s longstanding commitment to justice sector reform, highlighting its 27-year track record in promoting public safety and social justice across Nigeria and Africa. He acknowledged the support of Ambassador Svein Baera and the Norwegian team for partnering with CLEEN Foundation in a mission to transform Nigeria’s criminal justice landscape. The broader initiative, which was launched on 26th August 2025 in Abuja, is currently being implemented in twelve states including Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Enugu, Benue, and Jigawa, among others.
Mr. Maduoma underscored the significance of the ACJL, describing it as a pivotal legal framework designed to usher in transparency, fairness, and efficiency within the state’s criminal justice processes. However, he noted that challenges persist since the law’s enactment in Akwa Ibom in 2022, particularly in areas such as budgeting for implementation, inadequate operational resources, and gaps in the capacity of law enforcement and judicial personnel. These, he said, have continued to impede full operationalization of the law.
The workshop aims to close these gaps through a robust agenda that includes enhancing participants’ technical understanding of ACJL provisions, building practical monitoring and evaluation skills, fostering inter-agency collaboration, and developing actionable strategies to tackle systemic challenges such as trial delays, custodial congestion, and rights violations. Participants will also work toward creating sustainable frameworks for rights-compliant and consistent application of the law.
Emphasizing CLEEN Foundation’s intention to leverage its institutional expertise and multi-sectoral partnerships, Mr. Maduoma expressed optimism that the workshop would contribute meaningfully to the national discourse on justice reform as Nigeria marks a decade of implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). He called on all stakeholders present to contribute strategically and meaningfully, as their roles are vital in ensuring that the goals of the workshop translate into lasting institutional impact.
The opening remarks concluded with a strong call for collaboration, innovation, and rights-respecting practices in the justice sector, as CLEEN Foundation continues to push for reforms that are not only effective but also people-centered.
