Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a decisive move aimed at accelerating justice delivery and reducing chronic overcrowding in custodial facilities, the Government of Nasarawa State in central Nigeria has shortened the period allowed for issuing legal advice in criminal cases from over 40 days to a maximum of seven days.
The new directive, announced on April 8, 2026 by State Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice Isaac Danladi, is part of a broader strategy to tackle systemic delays that have for years slowed down prosecutions, prolonged pre‑trial detention and contributed to congestion in detention centres across the state. The policy took effect immediately following its unveiling during a ministerial briefing in Lafia, the state capital, and was confirmed by multiple sources reporting on the announcement.
Under Nigeria’s criminal justice framework, legal advice refers to the formal review and opinion provided by the state Ministry of Justice to law enforcement and prosecuting agencies on whether evidence gathered by police is sufficient to justify formal charges and prosecution. This advice is often required before courts will accept charges and proceed with trials.
For years, delays at this stage have been identified as a major contributor to justice backlogs in Nasarawa and other parts of the country. Previously, the process typically took more than 40 days, because case files were subjected to multiple layers of administrative review and coordination within the Ministry of Justice. In many instances, legal advice was only furnished after suspects had already spent extended periods in detention without being formally charged or arraigned.
At the briefing, Danladi acknowledged that prolonged legal advice timelines had “eroded confidence in the rule of law, discouraged investment, and left victims and defendants in prolonged uncertainty.” He said the streamlined system will vest responsibility for issuing legal advice squarely with the Director of Public Prosecutions, eliminating redundant steps that have historically slowed the process.
“This reform will accelerate case flow through the courts and ensure that suspects are promptly charged where evidence exists or released where it does not,” Danladi stated, stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.
The Attorney‑General also announced efforts to strengthen the prosecutorial cadre within the state, noting that the Ministry of Justice has expanded its team of state counsel to more than 70 lawyers. These prosecutors will be positioned to handle a broader range of cases across courts in Nasarawa, with improved remuneration and operational support intended to boost efficiency and morale.
Officials underscored that this legal advice reform is part of a suite of justice sector improvements being pursued by the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule. According to Danladi, these improvements include enhanced coordination with the judiciary, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Nigerian Bar Association. Such partnerships are aimed at identifying persistent bottlenecks not only in criminal justice but also in civil processes, where delays can have similarly damaging effects on individuals and businesses alike.
The reform arrives amid growing nationwide attention on Nigeria’s justice system performance. Overcrowding in correctional facilities remains a serious concern across the country, with awaiting‑trial detainees often constituting a large proportion of the population behind bars. Independent assessments, including reports by legal scholars and human rights advocates, have highlighted that inefficient pre‑trial procedures, weak case management systems and inadequate legal representation contribute substantially to prolonged detention and facility congestion.
In response, some states, including Lagos, have adopted complementary measures such as the release of selected inmates under executive clemency powers or bail arrangements to ease pressure on custodial centers. Lagos State recently freed dozens of inmates as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce overcrowding and improve prison conditions, while also procuring transport resources to support timely court attendance for detainees.
Nasarawa’s legal timeline reform is rooted in similar objectives but focuses directly on systemic procedural improvement. By shortening the legal advice period, the state government anticipates that courts will be able to move more cases into formal prosecution or resolution much faster, thereby reducing the time suspects spend awaiting trial—a critical factor in decongestion.
Commissioner for Information Ibrahim Tanko, who shared the platform with Danladi at the Lafia briefing, said the administration will embark on public outreach efforts to inform citizens about the reforms and encourage greater use of formal justice mechanisms rather than extrajudicial alternatives. He emphasised that strengthening trust in the legal system is essential for good governance and social stability.
Legal sector advocates have broadly welcomed the reform as a pragmatic step toward addressing entrenched judicial delays. They note that timely legal advice is fundamental to fair and efficient criminal procedure: it enables prosecutors to file charges when justified and courts to assess cases without undue delay. Without timely legal advice, suspects may languish in custody without meaningful judicial scrutiny, underscoring the reform’s potential human rights impact.
However, experts caution that shortening timelines is only one aspect of a more complex set of reforms needed to improve justice delivery. Broader investments in case management technology, expanded legal aid services for indigent defendants, and continued capacity building for both prosecutors and judges will be critical to sustain long‑term improvements. Nevertheless, Nasarawa’s initiative demonstrates an active policy effort to address one of the justice system’s most persistent procedural obstacles.
As the seven‑day legal advice deadline begins to take effect across Nasarawa, authorities say they will closely monitor implementation outcomes and make further adjustments where necessary to ensure that the hoped‑for gains in efficiency, fairness and decongestion are realised.
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