2.2  THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
During the December 2006 National Ministerial Press Briefing3 the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation intimated the public that the Ministry of justice has forwarded to the National Assembly a draft bill entitled “Administration of Criminal Justice Bill” which is aimed at modernising the criminal procedure system. The Bill is intended to replace the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), which presently applies to the Northern States, and the Criminal Procedure Act, which applies in the Southern States. It is the out come of the efforts of the National Working Group on Administration of Criminal Justice, which comprised representatives of all stakeholders of the Criminal Justice System of the Federation and State levels.

The Draft Legal Aid Reform Bill is another initiative projected to widen the provision of legal services for destitute defendants. It is designed to bring about a total turn around of the system of delivering legal services in aid of destitute persons. The Legal Aid Council is to be empowered to inspect all places where persons are detained with a view of taking up their cases. The scope of legal aid is also expected to be broadened to include the delivery of legal assistance in civil matters.
financial support can then be considered to check this ugly development. There is
On the issue of funding this initiative, a proposal has been made for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to devote a portion of the annual practising fees paid by lawyers to funding of the Council to enable it employ the services of more legal practitioners to supplement its staff who are currently overburdened with the increasing demand for legal services.