The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stated on Thursday that the criminal justice system in Nigeria is weak and sick.

Egbetokun made this assertion in Lagos during the 2024 Annual Lecture/Award Ceremony, urging Nigerians to help revive the system.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who represented the IGP, emphasized that people should stop blaming the police alone.

“The police are not the only pillar or stakeholder in the criminal justice system in this country,” Adejobi said. “We acknowledge our challenges, but we will do our best to ensure we have a better system.”

According to Adejobi, “We must all come together to help perfect the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.”

“The government has enacted the ACJA 2015 and other laws, but the problem we face is confusion and sentiments,” he added.

“Cybercrime laws have existed since 2015. The provisions state that certain online actions constitute offences. Nigerians need to understand that committing such acts is illegal.”

Addressing the #EndBadGovernance protests, Adejobi urged lawyers to stop misleading Nigerians about the arrested minors, clarifying the difference between protesters and criminals.

He noted that anyone over the age of seven can be charged and prosecuted for committing a crime. “Thank God the President pardoned them. Otherwise, we would have continued with the case,” Adejobi concluded.