BAIL

  AND   PRE-­‐TRIAL   DETENTION:   PERTINENT  

CONSIDERATIONS   UNDER   THE   ADMINISTRATION   OF   CRIMINAL  
JUSTICE  LEGISLATION*  
 
1.0   INTRODUCTION  
The   Criminal   Justice   framework,   exhibits   severe   tension   with                                                            
rights   and   liberty   with   particular   reference   the   right   to   liberty   and  
fair   hearing   enshrined   in   sections   35   and   36   of   the   Constitution.   An  
Arrest  and  detention  restricts  free  movement   of  a  person  especially  
where  they  are  not  done  pursuant  to  a  court  order.  Although  justified  
by   the   Constitution,   section   35(6)   of   the   same   constitution   requires  
that  a  person  who  is  arrested  or  detained  in  such  circumstances  shall  
be  brought  before  a  court  of  law  within  a  reasonable  time,  and  if  he  is  
not  tried  within  a  period  of  –    
(a) two   months   from   the   date   of   his   arrest   or   detention   in   the  
case  of  a  person  who  is  in  custody  or  is  not  entitled  to  bail;  
or    
(b) three  months  from  the  date  of  his  arrest  or  detention  in  the  
case   of   a   person   who   has   been   released   on   bail,   he   shall  
(without   prejudice   to   any   further   proceedings   that   may   be  
brought   against   him)   be   released   either   unconditionally   or  
upon   such   conditions   as   are   reasonably   necessary   to   ensure  
that  he  appears  for  trial  at  a  later  date.  

The  Constitution  further  elaborates  on  what  amounts  to  “reasonable  

time”  in  these  words  –  
(a) in  the  case  of  an  arrest  or  detention  in  any  place  where  there  is  

                                                                                                               
*  Presentation  By  Prof.  Adedeji  Adekunle  SAN  At  The  2019  Orientation  Course  

 
 a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  within  a  radius  of  forty  
kilometres,  a  period  of  one  day;  and    
(b) in  any  other  case,  a  period  of  two  days  or  such  longer  period  as  
in  the  circumstances  may  be  considered  by  the  court  to  be  
reasonable.  

It   is   instructive   that   the   above   provisions   are   expressly   qualified   in  

cases   where   a   person   is   arrested   or   detained   upon   reasonable  
suspicion   of   committing   a   capital   offence.     Although   not   explicit   on  
the   point   this   does   not   affect   the   obligation   to   bring   the   suspect   to  
court!   These   constitutional   provision   sets   the   parameters   for  
detention   and   bail   and   the   thrust   of   this   lecture.   There   is   evidence  
nationwide   of   weak   or   non-­‐compliance   with   these   constitutional  
provisions.   A   recent   survey,   which   garnered   statistics   from   Prison  
officials   in   Kano,   Adamawa   and   Lagos   States,   shows   a   yearly   increase  
in   Awaiting   Trial   inmate   population.   The   chart   below   demonstrates  
the  level  of  increase  between  March  2018  and  April  2019.    
  FCT  (KUJE)   ADAMAWA   LAGOS    
PROFILE   March   October   March   October   Mar   Oct  2018    
2018   2018   2018   2018   2018  
 
TOTAL   852   815   N/A   2706   8405   9260    
IN-­‐MATE  
 
POPULATI
On  
 
ATIs   633   674   N/A   1164   6731   7658    
(M&F)    
ATIs    (F)   N/A   N/A   N/A   23   N/A   N/A    
 
CONVICTS       N/A   9   N/A   N/A  
 
(F  
 
DATA  ON  FILE  OF  INMATE  AND  ATI  POPULATION  –  FCT,  ADAMAWA  AND  LAGOS  STATES  

  2  
2.0   ARREST  AND  RELATED  POWERS  
Unlawful   arrest   and   detention   are   major   problems   in   the   criminal  
justice   system   resulting   in   overcrowded   detention   facilities   such   as  
police  stations  and  prisons.    The  ACJA  2015  attempts  to  tackle  this    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
menace   firstly   by   curtailing   subjective   or   arbitrary   bases   for   arrest  
and   also   subjecting   the   exercise   of   the   power   of   arrest   to   judicial  
moderation.  For  example  Section  10(1)  of  the  Criminal  Procedure  Act  
(CPA)   which   authorises   the   police   to   arrest   without   a   warrant   any  
person  who  has  no  ostensible  means  of  sustenance  and  who  cannot  
give   a   satisfactory   account   of   himself   has   been   deleted.   Section   7   of  
the   ACJA   2015   also   prohibits   arrest   of   family   and   friends   of   a   suspect  
in  order  to  get  the  suspect  to  surrender.    
 
3.0   JUDICIAL   MODERATION   OF   ARREST   AND   DETENTION  
PROCEDURES  UNDER  THE  ACJA  
3.1   Returns  

  3  
Section   33   provides   that   the   Police   shall   make   report   at   the   last  
working  day  of  every  month  to  the  nearest  magistrate  the  cases  of  all  
suspects   arrested   without   warrant   within   the   limits   of   their  
respected  stations  or  agency  whether  or  not  bail  was  granted  
Likewise   the   Inspector   General   of   police   (IGP)   is   expected   to   make  
quarterly  returns  to  the  Attorney  General  of  the  federation  (AGF)  on  
all  arrested  persons  within  the  period.  This  data  is  to  be  maintained  
electronically  by  the  AGF.  The  Comptroller  General  of  Prisons  is  also  
expected  to  make  a  report  of  all  awaiting  trial  inmates  for  a  period  of  
6   months   from   the   date   of   arraignment   to   the   Chief   Judge   and   the  
AGF.  These  reports  are  meant  to  help  the  necessary  institutions  carry  
out   measures   to   ensure   that   the   objectives   of   ACJA   2015   are  
achieved.  
 
3.2   Visitation  
By  virtue  of  section  34  of  the  ACJA  The  Chief  Magistrate  shall  visit  at  
least   every   month   the   police   stations   within   its   jurisdiction   for   the  
purpose  of  conducting  an  inspection  of  detention  centers.  Visitations  
will   facilitate   recourse   to   section   32   of   the   ACJA,   which   applies   to  
cases  where  a  suspect  is  not  released  on  bail  after  24  hours  on  a  non-­‐
capital   offence,   and   an   application   is   made   to   the   court   on   behalf   of  
the  suspect.    The  court  shall  order  the  production  of  the  suspect  and  
inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  detention  and  admit  the  suspect  to  
bail  at  its  discretion.    
 
3.3   Remand  Proceedings  under  section  294  

  4  
An   important   innovation   in   the   ACJA   is   the   provisions   on   remand  
proceedings.†  Section   293   provides   that   a   suspect   arrested   for   an  
offence   for   which   a   magistrate   court   has   no   jurisdiction   to   try   shall,  
within   a   reasonable   time   of   arrest,   be   brought   before   a   magistrate  
court  for  remand.  The  application  for  remand  under  this  section  shall  
be   made   ex  parte.   This   process   enables   a   yet   to   be   charged   suspect   to  
be  kept  in  custody  pending  his  bail,  trial  or  release  or  pending  when  
the   legal   advice   from   the   Attorney   General   is   issued.   There   must   be  
some   probable   cause   justifying   the   remand   order,   which   in   the   first  
instance   should   not   be   more   than   fourteen   (14)   days   renewable   for  
another  fourteen  days  up  to  a  maximum  of  56  days.  
The   effect   of   this   is   that   there   is   a   time   frame   in   which   the   AG   should  
provide  legal  advice  as  to  whether  there  is  a  prima  facie  case  against  
the  accused  or  not.  (s.  376  prescribes  14  days)  The  legal  advice  of  the  
Attorney-­‐General  of  the  Federation  shall  in  all  cases  be  copied  to  the  
court,   and   the   court   may   act   solely   on   the   copy   of   the   advice   to   make  
any  order  that  may  be  necessary  in  the  circumstances.    
Probable   cause   can   be   deduced   from   a   consideration   of   the   following  
factors:  
(a) the  nature  and  seriousness  of  the  alleged  offence;  
(b) existence  of  reasonable  grounds  to  suspect  that  the  defendant  
has  been  involved  in  the  commission  of  the  alleged  offence;  
(c) existence  of  reasonable  grounds  for  believing  that  the  suspect  
may   abscond   or   commit   further   offence   where   he   is   not  
committed  to  custody;  and  
(d) any  other  circumstance  of  the  case  that  justifies  the  request  for  
remand.  
                                                                                                               
†  Section  294  ACJA  

  5  
The   tension   over   these   provisions   as   evinced   from   some   recent   cases  
relates   first   to   the   fact   that   the   order   of   remand   proceeds   from   a  
court   without   jurisdiction   and   the   propriety   of   that   court   granting  
bail  and  secondly  the  need  for  courts  to  carefully  consider  the  these  
factors   above   in   exercising   the   powers   of   remand.   With   regard   to   the  
first   concern,   the   power   to   grant   bail   is   statutory   and   these  
provisions   will   not   be   the   first   to   grant   powers   of   bail   to   courts   or  
administrative   bodies   which   are   not   seised   of   a   matter.   As   to   the  
second,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  section  292  seeks  to  eliminate  
the   unbridled   recourse   to   holding   charge   by   the   police   by   ensuring  
that   the   court   supervises   the   remand   process   of   Awaiting   Trial  
Inmates.    
 
3.4  Remand  and  Pre-­‐trial  Detention  
It   is   not   in   all   cases   that   bail   can   be   granted.   As   a   matter   of   fact   the  
ACJA  2015  also  provides  for  judicial  orders  remanding  suspects  into  
custody.   See   The   ACJA   provisions   on   remand   orders   are   novel   and  
flow   from   section   35   (4)   and   (5)   of   the   Constitution   which   requires  
that   a   person   arrested   for   an   offence   should   be   brought   to   court  
within   a   reasonable   time.   Thus   in   Joshua   Idokoiji   v   Nigeria   Police  
Force   &   7   Ors‡  the   applicant   was   arrested   and   detained   for   5   days.  
The   court   stated   that   steps   to   keep   a   suspect   further   in   custody  
pending  investigation  must  of  necessity  be  done  in  strict  compliance  
with   the   provisions   of   sections   293   and   294   of   the   ACJA   by  
approaching   the   court   within   one   day   of   the   suspects’   arrest,   for  
leave   to   keep   him   in   custody   as   regulated   by   the   Act;   and   that   any  
other   contrary   act   must   be   viewed   as   and   declared   a   breach   of   the  

                                                                                                               
‡
FCT/HC/M/2167/16.

  6  
suspects   fundamental   right   to   personal   liberty.   The   court   held   the  
detention   of   the   suspect   was   illegal,   unlawful   and   a   violation   of   the  
right   to   personal   liberty   guaranteed   under   section   35   of   the  
Constitution.    
3.4   How  are  Remand  Proceedings  Different  From  The  Holding  
Charge?  
LUFADEJU  V  JOHNSON,  (2007)  8  NWLR  (Pt.  1037)  535  
………  the  charge  is  not  read  to  the  accused  and  therefore  no  plea  
taken.  That  makes  the  difference  between  remand  and  arraignment.  
Once  an  accused  person  is  brought  under  Section  236(3)  ACJL  
(Lagos)  for  remand,  the  Magistrate  orders  his  remand  without  
arraignment.  By  the  subsection,  the  Magistrate  can  do  one  of  two  
things.  He  can  remand  the  accused  in  prison.  He  can  also  grant  bail  
pending  arraignment."  Per  NIKI  TOBI  ,J.S.C  (  Pp.  28-­‐29,  paras.  G-­‐B  )  
 
AG  LAGOS  STATE  v.  KEITA  (2016)  LPELR-­‐40163  (CA)  
A  Magistrate  shall  have  powers  to  remand  such  a  person  after  
examining  the  reasons  for  the  arrests  exhibited  in  the  request  form  
filed  by  the  Police,  and  if  satisfied  that  there  is  probable  cause  to  
remand  such  person  pending  legal  advice  within  the  time  limits  
stated  in  the  Act.  
As   set   out   in   section   293   ACJA,   a   suspect   arrested   upon   reasonable  
suspicion   of   an   offence   may   be   brought   before   a   Magistrate  
regardless   of   whether   such   magistrate   has   jurisdiction   over   the  
offence  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  determining  whether  to  remand  
the   suspect   into   custody   or   release   the   suspect   on   bail.   There   is   no  
need  for  any  make  up  or  holding  charge  but  the  application  shall  be  
made  ex  parte.    

  7  
 3.4.1   Probable  cause  (s.  294)  
The   court   shall   in   considering   an   application   for   remand   must   be  
satisfied  that  there  is  probable  cause  to  remand  the  suspect  pending  
(i)   the   receipt   of   legal   advice   from   the   Ministry   of   Justice   and   (ii)  
arraignment   of   the   suspect   before   the   appropriate   court.   It   is   equally  
open  to  the  court  to  grant  bail  to  the  suspect  brought  before  it.  The  
court   must   consider   the   following   in   determining   whether   probable  
cause  exists  for  the  remand  of  the  suspect  –    
(a) the  nature  and  seriousness  of  the  alleged  offence;    
(b) reasonable   grounds   to   suspect   that   the   suspect   has   been  
involved  in  the  commission  of  the  alleged  offence;    
(c) reasonable  grounds  for  believing  that  the  suspect  may  abscond  
or   commit   further   offence   where   he   is   not   committed   to  
custody;  and    
(d) any  other  circumstance  of  the  case  that  justifies  the  request  for  
remand.  

3.4.2   Time  and  Remand  Protocol  (s.  296).    

The   steps   and   period   outlined   under   section   296   of   ACJA   can   be  
abridged   only   upon   the   fulfillment   of   the   requirements   under   each  
protocol.  The  timelines  vary  according  to  jurisdiction.  Some  states  for  
example  prescribe  one  week  for  each  of  the  protocols  while  some  like  
Kaduna  State  stipulate  21  days  !    
(a) An  order  of  remand  made  by  a  court  shall  not  exceed  a  period  of  
fourteen  (14)  days  in  the  first  instance.    
(b) The   court   may   make   an   order   for   further   remand   of   the   suspect  
for   a   period   not   exceeding   fourteen   days,   on   application   in  
writing,  showing  good  cause  why  there  should  be  an  extension  
of  the  remand  period  or  otherwise  grant  bail.    

  8  
(c) After  the  expiration  of  the  14  days  extension,  the  court  shall  order  
the   release   of   the   person   remanded   unless   good   cause   is   shown  
why   there   should   be   further   remand   order   for   a   period   not  
exceeding  14  days.    
(d) At   the   expiration   of   the   further   order,   the   court   is   to   issue   a  
hearing   notice   to   the   IGP   and   AGF   to   show   cause   why   the  
suspect  remanded  should  not  be  unconditionally  released.  
(e) The   exception   is   in   terrorism   related   cases   where   suspects   are  
remanded   for   a   period   of   90   days   in   the   first   instance,  
renewable  until  the  conclusion  of  the  matter.  See  ACHEM  v.  FRN  
(2014)  LPELR-­‐23202  (CA)  –    

It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  applicant  was  convicted  and  sentenced  
for  offences  relating  to  terrorism,  which  in  recent  times  have  grown  in  
intensity   and   magnitude   and   have   become   a   threat   to   our   national  
security.   Courts   should   therefore   be   very   circumspect   in   granting   bail  
pending  appeal  to  a  person  convicted  for  any  offence  relating  thereto.  
See   also  MOHAMMED   V.   STATE(2015)  10  NWLR  (pt.  1468)  496  at  
512  
By  virtue  of  section  297  the  court  can  exercise  the  power  of  remand  
suo   motu   or   on   the   application   of   a   person   in   charge   of   a   facility  
where   the   detained   suspect   is.   The   court   can   exercise   these   powers  
whether  the  suspect  is  present  or  not.  Where  legal  advice  is  issued  a  
copy  must  in  all  cases  be  forwarded  to  the  court  and  the  court  shall  
release   the   suspect   immediately   if   the   legal   advice   of   the   Attorney-­‐
General   of   the   Federation   shows   that   the   suspect   has   no   case   to  
answer.    
4.0   Bail  

  9  
Bail   is   the   freeing   or   setting   at   liberty   of   a   person   arrested   or  
imprisoned,   upon   others   becoming   sureties   by   recognizance   for   his  
appearance   at   a   date   and   place   certainly   assigned,   he   also   entering  
into   self-­‐recognizance.   The   defendant   is   delivered   into   the   hands   of  
sureties   and   is   accounted   by   law   to   be   in   their   custody   though   they  
may   free   themselves   from   further   responsibility   if   they   surrender  
him   to   the   Court   before   the   date   assigned.   SHONEYE   v.   STATE  
(2015)  LPELR-­‐25862  (CA)  
The   ACJA   is   very   elaborate   on   the   issues   of   bail,   recognizances   and  
surety   and   also   introduced   the   use   of   bondsperson   in   criminal  
jurisprudence.   The   ACJA   envisages   that   suspects   who   are   held   for  
offences   other   than   a   capital   offence   should   be   entitled   to   bail
and   where   bail   is   not   granted   the   Act   further   provides   for   an  
application   to   be   made   either   in   writing   or   orally   on   behalf   of   the  
suspect.4  It   also   classified   when   bail   can   be   granted   into   different  
classes   such   as   offences   with   less   than   three5  or   more   than   three  
years6  imprisonment  and  in  capital  offences7.      
In  proceedings  for  offences  carrying  a  prison  term  of  3  years  or  less,  
bail   is   generally   available   unless   the   court   sees   reason   to   the  
contrary.   In   cases   where   the   imprisonment   exceeds   3   years,   the  
defendant  must  apply  to  court  and  should  be  released  on  bail  except  
in  the  following  circumstances  –  where  there  is  reasonable  ground  to  
believe  that  the  defendant  will,  where  released  on  bail  -­‐    
(a) commit    another  offence;  
(b) attempt  to  evade  his  trial;    

                                                                                                               
4  Section  32(3)  ACJA  
5  Section  163  ACJA  
6  Section  162  ACJA  
7  Section  161  ACJA  

  10  
(c) attempt   to   influence,   interfere   with,   intimidate   witnesses,   and  
or  interfere  in  the  investigation  of  the  case;    
(d) attempt  to  conceal  or  destroy  evidence;    
(e) prejudice  the  proper  investigation  of  the  offence;  or  
(f) undermine   or   jeopardize   the   objectives   or   the   purpose   or   the  
functioning  of  the  criminal  justice  administration,  including  the  
bail  system.  (s.162)  

Bail   pending   trial   is   a   basic   constitutional   right   with   respect   to  

bailable   offence(s)   such   as   the   offences   for   which   the   appellant   is  
standing   trial   at   the   Court   below.   The   burden   of   proof   is   on   the  
respondent   to   establish   that   the   appellant   is   not   entitled   to   bail  
pending   his   trial   in   respect   of   the   bailable   offences   at   stake.  
THEOPHILOUS  v.  FRN  &  ORS  (2015)  LPELR-­‐25984(CA)  
 
4.1   Capital  Offences  
A   judge   of   the   High   court   may   under   exceptional   circumstances,  
admit   a   suspect   arrested,   detained   or   charged   with   an   offence  
punishable  with  death  to  bail.  (s.161)  
For   the   purpose   of   exercise   of   discretion   in   subsection   (1)   of   this  
section,  “exceptional  circumstance”  includes:  
(a) ill   health   of   the   applicant   which   shall   be   confirmed   and  
certified   by   a   qualified   medical   practitioner   employed   in   a  
Government  hospital,  provided  that  the  suspect  is  able  to  prove  
that  there  are  no  medical  facilities  to  take  care  of  his  illness  by  
the  authority  detaining  him;  
(b) extraordinary   delay   in   the   investigation,   arraignment   and  
prosecution  for  a  period  exceeding  one    year;  or  

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 (c) any   other   circumstances   that   the   Judge   may,   in   the   particular  
facts  of  the  case,  consider  exceptional.  

In   some   respects   also   the   ACJA   liberalises   the   bail   process.   For  
example   the   ACJA   eliminates   the   discrimination   against   women  
especially   as   it   has   to   do   with   women   standing   as   surety   for  
suspects,8    
 
4.2   Child  Suspects  –  Administrative  Bail  
Often  children  come  into  conflict  with  criminal  law  in  respect  of  petty    
offences  like  street-­‐trading  and  sanitation  offences.  Section  160  of  the    
ACJA  provides  that  where  a  child  is  arrested  with  or  without  warrant    
and  cannot  be  brought  forthwith  before  a  court,  the  police  officer  in    
immediate  charge  for  the  time  being  of  the  police  station  to  which  the    
child  is  brought,  shall  inquire  into  the  case  and  shall    except–  
(a) the  charge  is  one  of  homicide;    
(b) the   offence   charged   is   punishable   with   imprisonment   for   a  
term  exceeding  three  years;    
(c) it   is   necessary   in   the   interest   of   the   child   to   remove   him  
from  association  with  any  reputed  criminal  or  prostitute,  
release   the   child   on   a   recognizance   entered   into   by   his   parent   or  
guardian,  with  or  without  sureties.  
The   parents   or   guardian   of   the   child   shall   execute   a   bond   for   such   an  
amount  as  will  in  the  opinion  of  the  officer  secure  the  attendance  of  
the  child  for  the  hearing  of  the  charge.  (Similarly  in  cases  where  the  
court   is   disposed   to   granting   bail   to   a   child   suspect,   the   parent   or  
guardian   is   required   to   enter   into   a   recognizance   that   the   child   will  
comply  with  the  courts  directives.  (s.  166))  
                                                                                                               
8  Section  167(3)  ACJA  

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section   160   does   not   apply   where   the   child   is   remanded   in   detention  
facility  by  order  of  court  in  default  of  payment  of  a  fine  for  example.  
It   is   however   recommended   that   this   practice   should   not   be  
encouraged   as   it   negates   the   law’s   concern   for   the   welfare   of  
children.  
 
4.3   Bail  Conditions  
Section   165   of   the   ACJA   provides   that   the   conditions   for   bail   in   any  
case   shall   be   at   the   discretion   of   the   court   with   due   regard   to   the  
circumstances   of   the   case   and   shall   not   be   excessive.   The   main  
purpose  of  bail  conditions  is  ensure  that  the  defendant’s  presence  at  
trial   is   assured.   Such   conditions   may   be   incorporated   in   a  
recognizance  entered  into  by  the  defendant  or  surety.    
In   UDUESEGBE   v.   FRN   (2014)   LPELR-­‐23191(CA)   the   court   of  
Appeal   enjoined   courts   to   be   liberal   in   their   approach   to   grant   of  
bail  and  the  conditions  thereof  in  non  -­‐capital  offences.  They  are  thus  
to  grant  bail  on  favorable  and  affordable  conditions.  It  has  held  that  it  
is   against   the   spirit   of   the   law   to   impose   excessive   and   stringent  
conditions  for  bail  as  that  would  amount  to  a  refusal  of  bail.  
Aside  from  the  admonition  against  excessive  bail  conditions,  there  is  
no   statutory   parameter   for   determining   how   stringent   the   terms   of  
bail  and  recognizance  should  be.  The  gravity  of  the  offence  is  not  the  
sole   consideration.   The   court   may   in   addition   to   other   conditions  
require   deposit   of   a   sum   of   money   or   other   security   as   the   court   may  
specify  from  the  defendant  or  his  surety  before  the  bail  is  approved.  
Any   such   money   or   security   deposited   shall   be   returned   to   the  
defendant   or   his   surety   or   sureties,   as   the   case   may   be,   at   the  

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conclusion  of  the  trial  or  on  an  application  by  the  surety  to  the  court  
to  discharge  his  recognizance.  
In   appropriate   cases   the   High   court   can   direct   a   magistrate   to   vary  
bail  conditions  or  review  or  revoke  conditions  imposed  by  it  for  bail.  
 
4.4    Professional  bondsmen  
if   as   has   been   canvassed   bail   is   contingent   on   the   payment   of   a  
deposit,  it  is  unlikely  that  if  bail  is  then  granted  in  self-­‐recognisance  
the   suspect   would   evade   justice.   A   further   suggestion   is   the   use   of  
professional  bondsmen  in  order  to  address  widespread  reluctance  on  
the  part  of  citizens  to  stand  as  bail  surety.  ACJA  empowers  the  Chief  
Judge  to  regulate  the  registration  and  licensing  of  corporate  bodies  or  
persons   to   act   as   bondspersons   within   the   jurisdiction   of   the   court   in  
which  they  are  registered.  A  person  shall  not  engage  in  the  business  
of   bail   bond   services   without   being   duly   registered   and   licensed   in  
accordance   with   the   subsection   (1)   of   this   section.   (s.187).   This  
provision   formalizes   the   rampant   and   unregulated   practice   of  
“professional”  sureties  that  is  currently  found  in  many  jurisdictions.  
5.0   Conclusion  
The   ACJA   presents   an   opportunity   to   entrench   common   standards  
and   principles   in   Criminal   justice   Administration.   Need   for   the  
criminal  justice  system  to  work  as  an  integrated  system.    
State,   Zonal   and   National   Criminal   Justice   coordinating   Strategies  
aimed   at   Streamlining   the   criminal   justice   process   and   removing  
bottlenecks  and  administrative  obstacles.  
The   objectives   of   the   Act   will   be   considerably   realised   with   the  
introduction  of  subsidiary  rules  to  standardise  practice  and  protocols  
in  criminal  proceedings  

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