The Nasarawa State Government has introduced a major justice sector reform, reducing the timeline for issuing legal advice on high-profile cases from over 40 days to seven days. The initiative is aimed at accelerating justice delivery and decongesting correctional facilities.
Speaking at a ministerial briefing in Lafia, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, explained that delays in legal processes had contributed significantly to prolonged detention of awaiting-trial inmates.
Danladi noted that responsibility for issuing legal advice has now been vested directly in the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), thereby 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,” he stated.
The Ministry of Justice has also strengthened the capacity of over 70 state counsels to prosecute cases across courts, while improving their remuneration to enhance efficiency and motivation.
Danladi highlighted ongoing collaboration with the judiciary, police, correctional services, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to address bottlenecks in both criminal and civil justice processes. He further noted that Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration remains committed to justice sector reforms, including periodic pardons to reduce congestion in correctional centres.
Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Tanko, added that the government will intensify public enlightenment campaigns 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 will strengthen the rule of law and governance in the state.
