Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, has called for a broader adoption of approaches that can speed up the handling of criminal cases, pointing to the experience of specialised courts as a possible model for improving the administration of justice.
The call comes amid continuing concerns over delays in criminal proceedings and the length of time some defendants spend awaiting the conclusion of their cases.
In Edo State, the judiciary recently established a Special Criminal Court to handle cases involving cultism, kidnapping and other matters assigned by the Chief Judge. The initiative was announced as a measure intended to promote faster justice delivery in cases involving serious crimes.
The development has renewed attention on a broader question facing Nigeria’s justice system: how can criminal cases be concluded more efficiently without compromising fair trial rights?
What the NBA is asking for
The central issue behind the NBA’s position is the speed at which criminal cases move through the courts.
A criminal case can involve several stages, including investigation, charging, arraignment, hearings, presentation of evidence, cross-examination, judgment and, where applicable, appeals. Delays at any of these stages can prolong the time before a case is finally resolved.
The NBA’s argument, as reported in connection with the Benin Branch, is that lessons from specialised judicial arrangements should be considered for the wider criminal justice system.
The proposal does not simply concern making courts move faster. Speed must operate alongside due process, because a criminal trial determines important questions about an individual’s liberty and legal rights.
What is a special criminal court?
A special criminal court is a court or designated judicial arrangement established or assigned to deal with particular categories of cases.
The idea is to concentrate judicial attention and resources on a defined class of cases rather than allowing them to compete for space within a broad court docket.
In Edo State, for example, the Special Criminal Court announced in June 2026 was designated to handle cultism, kidnapping and other matters assigned by the Chief Judge. The Edo State judiciary said the arrangement was intended to support speedy dispensation of justice and respond to security-related cases.
The approach can therefore be understood as a form of case specialisation.
Instead of treating every criminal case in exactly the same administrative manner, the judiciary can organise particular categories of cases around dedicated judicial resources.
Why does speed matter in criminal cases?
Delays in criminal proceedings can have consequences for defendants, victims, witnesses, investigators, prosecutors, correctional institutions and the wider justice system.
For defendants who are awaiting trial, prolonged proceedings can mean spending extended periods in custody before the court reaches a final decision.
Research published on Nigeria’s criminal justice system has identified awaiting-trial problems as a persistent concern and examined how technology and better coordination between justice institutions could help accelerate criminal proceedings.
The issue is therefore larger than the number of cases appearing before a judge.
Police investigations, prosecution, court administration, access to case files and correctional services all form part of the criminal justice process.
If one part of that chain is slow, the entire process can be affected.
Nigeria already has a legal framework for faster justice
The push for quicker criminal trials is not entirely new.
Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice framework was designed in part to promote efficient management of criminal justice institutions and the speedy dispensation of justice.
The objective is not simply to obtain quick convictions. It also includes protecting the rights and interests of suspects, defendants and victims while ensuring that criminal justice institutions function efficiently.
That distinction is important.
A faster criminal justice system should mean less avoidable delay, not the removal of safeguards that protect people accused of crimes.
A defendant remains entitled to due process, while victims and the wider public also have an interest in cases being resolved within a reasonable period.
The Edo experience
The recent Edo initiative provides a practical example of how specialisation can be used within the judicial system.
According to the Edo State Chief Registrar’s announcement reported by Premium Times, the Special Criminal Court was constituted following a request from Governor Monday Okpebholo and is expected to deal with cultism, kidnapping and other cases assigned by the Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa.
The stated objective is to ensure faster justice in cases involving serious security concerns.
However, establishing a special court by itself does not automatically resolve every cause of delay.
A criminal case can still be affected by investigations, availability of witnesses, legal applications, prosecution capacity, defence preparation, court resources and other procedural issues.
For that reason, the wider debate is about whether the principles behind specialised courts can be combined with broader reforms across the criminal justice chain.
Technology could also play a role
Another issue connected to faster criminal trials is the use of technology.
Research into Nigeria’s awaiting-trial problem has examined the potential of a centralised electronic system connecting relevant criminal justice institutions.
Such a system could allow authorised agencies to access and update case information more efficiently, reducing some of the delays associated with manual records and disconnected processes.
Technology, however, is only one part of the solution.
Digital case management would still require adequate infrastructure, trained personnel, reliable data management and appropriate safeguards for sensitive legal information.
Faster does not mean less fair
One of the most important distinctions in the debate is between speedy justice and rushed justice.
Speedy justice means reducing unnecessary delays while allowing courts enough time to consider evidence and legal arguments properly.
Rushed justice, by contrast, could undermine the fairness and reliability of proceedings.
For criminal cases, the distinction is particularly important because the consequences can include imprisonment and other serious restrictions on a person’s liberty.
Any expansion of specialised or accelerated proceedings therefore needs to operate within established legal safeguards.
Why the NBA’s position matters
The NBA’s call highlights a broader concern within Nigeria’s justice sector: the need to make criminal proceedings more efficient while maintaining confidence in the courts.
The issue also has implications beyond individual cases.
A justice system that resolves cases efficiently can provide greater certainty to victims, defendants, lawyers, investigators and the public.
Conversely, prolonged unresolved cases can place pressure on courts and correctional facilities and make it more difficult for victims and their families to obtain closure.
Earlier initiatives in Edo have also involved cooperation between legal organisations and the judiciary around speedy trial. The Federation of Women Lawyers in Nigeria, for example, has documented advocacy and sensitisation work in Edo involving NBA Benin Branch representatives and other justice-sector institutions on implementing speedy-trial provisions under the state’s criminal justice framework.
What happens next?
The key question is whether the experience of specialised courts can inform wider reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
For such reforms to work effectively, attention would need to extend beyond courtrooms to investigations, prosecution, case management, digital records, judicial capacity and coordination among criminal justice institutions.
The NBA’s position adds to the continuing discussion over how Nigeria can reduce unnecessary delays while preserving due process.
For citizens, the central issue is straightforward: criminal cases should be investigated properly, tried fairly and resolved without avoidable delay.
That balance between efficiency, fairness and access to justice will remain central to any effort to reform criminal trials in Nigeria.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Premium Times — report on Edo State’s Special Criminal Court for cultism and kidnapping.
- Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria — Edo justice-sector activities relating to speedy trial.
- SAGE Open — research on awaiting-trial problems and technology in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
- Edo State Judiciary — official materials on judicial administration in Edo State.
