Withdrawal from criminal proceedings is a re-occurring challenge of the Nigerian criminal justice system, owing to the possibility of prolonging the trial process when they occur. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) came into force in 2015 to ensure that the system of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria runs efficiently in the pursuit of the speedy dispensation of justice.  One of the avenues through which ACJA seeks to address the undue delays in the dispensation of criminal proceedings is to tackle the problem associated with the discontinuance of a case due to withdrawals.  

This Bulletin considers the trend of withdrawals pre- and post -ACJA and the impact it has on criminal proceedings.  It examines the reasons for withdrawals and the procedure through an analysis of relevant case law and legal provisions before concluding with recommendations.