Anambra reviews land cases to decongest correctional centres

Anambra State in Nigeria is undertaking a significant review of criminal cases related to land disputes, a move aimed at decongesting correctional centers and reforming the justice system. The state government has observed that numerous civil matters involving land ownership and conflicts have been improperly criminalized, leading to a substantial backlog of cases in various courts.

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The Honourable Attorney General of Anambra State has observed with concern the undue criminalisation of civil matters involving land disputes, which constitute a substantial number of the criminal cases pending in various courts in the State.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tochukwu Nweke, seeks to rectify the undue criminalization of civil disputes. A public notice issued by the Head of the Attorney General’s Chambers, Chinwe Okonkwo-Okom, invites members of the public to submit complaints concerning criminal cases involving land disputes. These cases, currently pending before the High Court or Magistrate Courts, are subject to review if they are deemed civil in nature.

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As part of the ongoing correctional centre (prison) decongestion exercise and the criminal justice sector reform in the State, the Attorney General has decided to review all pending criminal matters bordering on land disputes.

The Attorney General possesses the constitutional power, under Section 211 (1) (c) of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution (as amended), to discontinue such cases. By reviewing these matters, the state aims to identify and discontinue those that should have been handled as civil claims, thereby freeing up judicial resources and reducing the prison population. Submissions require copies of the charge sheet, proof of evidence, and other pertinent documents for the Attorney General’s office to conduct its review.

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This is to enable the Attorney General to determine such matters which are civil in nature and to discontinue such cases pursuant to the powers vested in him by Section 211 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).