Anambra Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Tochukwu Nweke, SAN moves to decongest prison through undue criminalization of civil matters involving land disputes
A statement on the “Review of Criminal Cases Involving Land Disputes” noted that, as part of the ongoing correctional centre (prison) decongestion exercise and criminal justice sector reform in the state, the Attorney General has decided to review all pending criminal matters bordering on land disputes.
According to the statement, which was signed by the Head, Attorney General’s Chambers, Chinwe Okonkwo-Okom, Esq., the review is intended to enable the Attorney General determine matters that are civil in nature and 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).
The statement invited members of the public to submit for the Attorney General’s review complaints relating to criminal cases involving land disputes pending against any person, either in the High Court of the State or in Magistrate Courts, which are believed to be civil in nature.
According to the statement, such complaints should be accompanied by a copy of the Charge/Information, proof of evidence, and any other relevant documents, and should be submitted at the Attorney General’s Conference Room, Ministry of Justice, Jerome Udorji Secretariat, Awka.
