— Fagbemi Blames Delays For Rising Prison Congestion
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called on the Body of Attorneys-General across the country to close ranks and work collaboratively towards reforming the legal framework governing Nigeria, declaring that the current fragmented approach to justice delivery is fuelling inefficiency and eroding public trust in the rule of law.
Sani gave the charge on Wednesday in Kaduna at the opening session of the Body of Attorneys-General Conference, where he urged participants to jointly embark on comprehensive legal reviews to address inconsistencies and outdated laws.
“The administration of justice in our country has been hampered by a lack of coordinated action. We have seen jurisdictional conflicts, duplication of efforts, and a fragmentation of legal reforms that slow down progress and create confusion,” he said.
According to him, no single level of government can successfully execute such a broad task alone, insisting that both state and federal legal institutions must adopt a unified strategy.
“This onerous task cannot be achieved by a single state or the federal government alone. It requires a collaborative effort to fund legal aid services, train community paralegals, and use technology to demystify the legal process for all,” Sani said.
He warned that allowing federal and state justice systems to continue operating in isolation would only worsen inefficiencies and frustrate citizens seeking redress.
“This approach, where federal and state authorities operate in isolation, is a significant gap in our current system. It is a gap that breeds inefficiency, frustrates citizens, and ultimately undermines public confidence in the rule of law,” he added.
The governor called for the institutionalisation of regular and constructive engagement among Attorneys-General to ensure harmonisation of reforms and consistency in the administration of justice nationwide.
“We must establish a robust framework for continuous dialogue and cooperation between federal and state legal authorities. This is not about one level of government ceding its authority to another. Rather, it is about creating a symbiotic relationship where we can share ideas and address critical gaps,” he said.
While applauding various state-led reforms in areas such as sentencing guidelines and technology-driven case management, the governor expressed concern over their limited impact due to the absence of inter-state coordination.
“Every state is innovating to improve its justice system… but their impact is limited if they exist in a vacuum. A lack of harmonisation can lead to a patchwork of legal standards across the country, creating disparities in how justice is administered,” he added..
To remedy the situation, Sani recommended the development of model laws adaptable to different state contexts while retaining national coherence.
“We must create a forum where we can share best practices, align our reform agendas, and develop model laws that can be adopted uniformly, while still allowing for local adaptation,” he stressed.
“Ultimately, all of our reforms must be judged by whether they improve access to justice for the average Nigerian.”
He revealed that Kaduna State has already launched a comprehensive review of its laws and is willing to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Justice and other state governments.
“We are eager to partner with the Federal Ministry of Justice and other states to ensure our efforts contribute to a more coherent national legal framework. We recognize that our success is twined with the success of all states and the nation as a whole,” he said.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), lamented the persistent delays in court processes and blamed them for worsening prison congestion across the country.
“One of the most persistent challenges besetting our legal system remains the protracted delays in court proceedings and the growing backlog of cases,” Fagbemi said.
According to him, the shortage of judges, inadequate court infrastructure, and limited access to legal services are major factors impeding efficient justice delivery.
“These delays… severely strain the system and all its users — litigants, lawyers, judges, and court administrators alike,$ he added.
Fagbemi said the consequence of such inefficiencies is most glaring in Nigeria’s correctional facilities, where awaiting-trial inmates continue to outnumber convicts.
“Chief among them is the rising population of awaiting-trial inmates in our detention centres, a condition which exacerbates overcrowding and undermines efforts to rehabilitate and reform. We cannot continue to treat these symptoms without addressing the root causes,” the minister stated.
He highlighted the successes recorded by Lagos State and the National Industrial Court through the deployment of electronic case filing and digitisation of court records, insisting that technology holds the key to unlocking faster judicial processes.
“The implementation of electronic case filing systems and the digitisation of court processes have already yielded tangible results in Lagos State and at the National Industrial Court,” he added.
The conference brought together chief law officers from across Nigeria’s 36 states to brainstorm on strategies for strengthening legal institutions, enhancing access to justice, and aligning state and federal efforts towards a more equitable legal system.
