The ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt has featured a strong call for a more child-sensitive justice system capable of protecting the rights, dignity and welfare of children who come into contact with the law. The call was made during a session titled “Justice Beyond Limit: Justice for Every Child,” sponsored by UNICEF, where legal practitioners and justice-sector stakeholders examined gaps in Nigeria’s approach to child justice.
Speaking during the session, Polycarp Okorie called for amendments to the Child Rights Act to address shortcomings in the treatment of children within the justice system. He stressed that children who become involved in legal proceedings should not be left without professional assistance, insisting that access to legal representation must form a central part of the justice process. He also advocated increased use of diversion, where appropriate, to prevent children from being unnecessarily subjected to formal court proceedings.
Participants also raised concerns over the effectiveness of Family Courts in providing specialised services for children. They noted that the absence of adequate child-friendly structures in some jurisdictions could undermine the protections guaranteed to children under the law, making it necessary to strengthen specialised institutions and ensure that judicial processes are adapted to the needs of young persons.
Representing the Nigeria Police Force, Lasis Babatunde highlighted the need for law enforcement officers to follow appropriate procedures whenever children are accused of criminal offences. He stressed the importance of promptly informing a child’s parent, guardian or relevant social welfare officer and ensuring that police interviews are properly documented. The presence of an adult during such interviews was also identified as an important safeguard for the child’s welfare and rights.
The Nigeria Correctional Service representative, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of establishing the age of individuals before they are committed to correctional facilities. The session noted that children should not be subjected to the same approach applied to adults, with greater emphasis required on protection, rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar, Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, further disclosed concerns over children in custody without legal representation and highlighted the Council’s pro bono efforts to provide assistance.
The discussions ultimately noted that achieving justice for children goes beyond simply giving them access to the courtroom. Speakers called for stronger cooperation among the Legal Aid Council, police, courts, social welfare agencies and correctional institutions to create a coordinated child-protection system.
The session stressed that from arrest and investigation to trial and, where necessary, rehabilitation, every stage of the justice process must safeguard the rights and future of the child.