October 2025 Police Oversight Visits With ACJMC
In October 2025, the Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative (AWJAI) conducted police oversight visits across multiple police stations in Abuja. The initiative promotes transparency, accountability and respect for human rights within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
On 13 October 2025, AWJAI conducted joint police oversight visits to Bwari and Ushafa Police Stations in the Federal Capital Territory.
This important initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), the Nigerian Bar Association and Citizens Gavel, with Her Worship, Magistrate Chiemena Nonye Okoronkwo, leading the delegation.
The key outcomes of the Visit
At the Bwari Police Station, the monitoring team encountered fourteen detainees in custody. Following the visit:
- Five detainees were released on bail.
- Two individuals were promptly taken before a court of law.
- Three were transferred to the State CID for further investigation.
- The remaining detainees were still in lawful custody, pending the expiration of their legally permissible detention period.
While the station was generally clean and orderly, with commendable cooperation from the officers on duty, a faint but unpleasant odour coming from the cells highlighted the ongoing need for improved hygiene and humane conditions in detention environments. This subtle detail serves as a stark reminder that clean facilities alone are not enough; detainees deserve dignified treatment at every level of their confinement.
The situation at the Ushafa Police Division was notably positive. Only two detainees were found in custody, both reportedly under active investigation. The team observed that:
- The facilities were in good condition
- Officers were fully compliant with lawful procedures and standards
This reflects progress and offers a model for what lawful and rights-respecting policing can look like when oversight mechanisms are in place and taken seriously.
Why Oversight Matters
These police oversight visits underscore the critical role of regular monitoring in promoting a humane and lawful criminal justice system. Routine oversight helps ensure:
- Detainees are not held beyond legally permissible periods
- Conditions in detention meet basic health and safety standards
- Law enforcement remains accountable to the rule of law
At AWJAI, we remain committed to a justice system where every individual’s dignity is protected, even behind bars. We will continue working with our partners and institutions to safeguard the rights of all, from the streets to the cells to the courtrooms.
Accountability in Detention: Oversight Visit to Apo Police Station
On October 14, 2025, the Asabe Waziri Justice Advocacy Initiative (AWJAI), in collaboration with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Public and Private Development Centre, conducted an oversight visit to Apo Police Station in Abuja.
This exercise was carried out under the leadership of His Worship, Magistrate Abdulmajid Oniyangi, as part of a broader effort to ensure that detention practices remain lawful, transparent, and humane across Nigeria’s law enforcement facilities.
The key outcomes of the Visit
During the monitoring exercise, the team found a total of 11 detainees in custody, 10 men and 1 woman. Most were being held for theft-related offences, including one case involving theft by a servant amounting to ₦2.3 million.
His Worship Magistrate Oniyangi assessed the detention records and found that most detainees were within their lawful detention timeframe, commending the Apo Police Division for its compliance with the law and due process.
The following outcomes were recorded:
- Three detainees were granted bail
- Five were charged to court
- Four remained under investigation
While the team observed a slight odor emanating from the cell area, the overall environment was clean. The officers on duty were cooperative and professional. Notably, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Uchenna Igwebuike, was particularly supportive, facilitating the visit and ensuring access to relevant records.
Why Oversight Matters
Every visit like this reaffirms the critical importance of independent police oversight in safeguarding human rights and promoting the rule of law. Regular monitoring:
- Prevents unlawful detention
- Encourages compliance with legal standards
- Enhances public trust in law enforcement
- Ensure detainees are treated with dignity and fairness
At AWJAI, we believe that justice begins with accountability. From courtrooms to police cells, we remain dedicated to ensuring that every person’s rights are protected, regardless of their status.
Different Locations, One Purpose: AWJAI’s Oversight Visit to Karu and Nyanya Police Stations
On October 15, 2025, AWJAI, in collaboration with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), conducted a dual-location police oversight visits to Karu and Nyanya Police Stations in Abuja.
These visits are part of AWJAI’s ongoing efforts to ensure that detention conditions align with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 and to promote the constitutional rights and dignity of detainees across the Federal Capital Territory.
The visit was led by His Worship, Magistrate Haruna A. Haruna of the Karu Magistrate Court, who conducted in-person interviews with each detainee and issued appropriate directives regarding their legal status including decisions on bail and court charges.
The key outcomes of the Visit
At Karu Division, the team found 8 detainees in custody:
- Two men arrested for theft
- Six women arrested for prostitution
After interviewing the detainees, Magistrate Haruna granted bail to all six women, offering them not just legal relief, but words of advice and encouragement, alongside the Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Committee.
Additionally, the Magistrate instructed officers to ensure that any detainee undergoing investigation must be held only with a valid remand order, reinforcing the importance of compliance with due process and constitutional protections.
At Nyanya Division, the team encountered four detainees:
- Two individuals jointly charged with mischief
- One individual charged with rape of a minor and sodomy
- One individual charged with theft by servant
The NBA Human Rights Committee offered to intervene in the case involving the young man accused of stealing from his employer, to facilitate negotiation and possible restitution instead of extended detention or court delays.
Magistrate Haruna emphasized the importance of charging only appropriate cases to court, urging the police to use legal discretion to prevent court congestion and focus judicial resources on more serious offences.
Oversight That Matters
This dual location visit is a testament to the power of targeted, community-based justice reform. It demonstrates how frontline monitoring, judicial involvement and civil society partnerships can work together to protect rights and reduce unnecessary pre-trial detention.
At AWJAI, we believe justice must be pursued from the roots, at the point of arrest, inside detention facilities and at the first contact between the citizen and the system. Our mission remains grounded in dignity, fairness, and accountability for all.
