With support from the Government of Japan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) partnered with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Justice's Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions to deliver a series of in-depth training workshops for 34 Nigerian prosecutors. These workshops focused on strengthening capacity to prosecute terrorism and other serious offenses, in accordance with the rule of law and human rights.
From May to September 2015, in Abuja, two select groups of prosecutors took part in a series of three in-depth training workshops each. These workshops took a practical approach utilizing case studies and practical exercises, covering prosecutorial standards and good practices.
The workshops strengthened prosecutors understanding and knowledge of the relevant Nigerian and international legal frameworks and enhanced their case analysis and written and oral advocacy skills - knowledge and skills which will be relevant in all of their daily work. Prosecutors also benefited from the expertise and experience of practitioners from Kenya, Uganda and the United Kingdom.
This training series builds on UNODC's ongoing partnership with the Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions. In 2014, UNODC delivered a similar in-depth training series for 21 select Nigerian prosecutors, as part of a broader assistance programme funded by the European Union.
Through these efforts, UNODC has assisted Nigeria to develop a pool of trained prosecutors with enhanced capacity to prosecute terrorism and other serious offenses in accordance with the rule of law and human rights, supporting the transition from confession-based to evidence-based prosecutions.