Nasarawa Reduces Legal Advice Period To Seven Days

Nasarawa reduces legal advice period from 40 days to seven, aiming to speed justice delivery and decongest correctional facilities.

The Nasarawa State Government has reduced the timeline for issuing legal advice on high-profile cases from over 40 days to seven days, in a move aimed at accelerating justice delivery and decongesting correctional facilities.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, disclosed this during a ministerial briefing in Lafia, noting that delays in legal processes had contributed to prolonged detention of awaiting-trial inmates.

He explained that the reform streamlines the process by vesting responsibility in the Director of Public Prosecution, eliminating multiple layers of review that previously slowed down case handling.

“We recognised that delays in adjudication erode confidence in the rule of law, discourage investment, and leave victims and defendants in prolonged uncertainty,” Danladi said.According to him, the Ministry of Justice has also strengthened the capacity of over 70 state counsels to prosecute cases across courts, while improving their remuneration to boost efficiency and motivation.

He added that the government is collaborating with the judiciary, police, correctional services, and the Nigerian Bar Association to address bottlenecks in both criminal and civil justice processes.

Danladi further noted that the administration of Abdullahi Sule remains committed to justice sector reforms, including periodic pardons aimed at reducing congestion in correctional centres.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Tanko, said the government would continue public enlightenment efforts to build trust in the justice system and discourage self-help.

He urged residents to seek redress through courts and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, assuring that reforms would strengthen rule of law and governance in the state.