Anambra reviews land cases to decongest correctional centres

The Anambra State Government has commenced a review of pending criminal cases arising from land disputes as part of efforts to decongest correctional centres and reform the state’s criminal justice system.

The government said many land-related disputes, which are civil in nature, had been criminalised and now account for a significant number of cases pending before courts in the state.

This was contained in a public notice signed by the Head of the Attorney General’s Chambers, Chinwe Okonkwo-Okom, on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tochukwu Nweke.

The notice, dated June 1, 2026, was made available to journalists on Thursday.

It read, “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.

“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.

“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).”

The government invited members of the public to submit complaints regarding criminal cases involving land disputes pending before the High Court or Magistrate Courts which they believe are civil in nature.

It said submissions should include copies of the charge sheet, proof of evidence and other relevant documents for review by the Attorney General’s office.