Legal practitioners in Kaduna State have blamed prolonged judicial delays for worsening congestion in correctional centers, saying systemic inefficiencies continue to keep thousands of suspects behind bars without timely trials.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, the lawyers identified slow case processing, prolonged pre-trial detention, delayed legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), missing case files, and the widespread use of holding charges as major drivers of prison overcrowding.
A retired magistrate, Mr Jonah Praise, said many suspects remain in custody for extended periods while awaiting DPP advice, the filing of charges at the High Court, or even the availability of interpreters.
He noted that courts often adjourn such cases instead of granting the release of detainees, even when they have spent unreasonable periods in custody.
According to him, many inmates remain in correctional facilities longer than the sentences they might receive if eventually convicted.
Praise urged authorities to recruit more lawyers into the Nigeria Police Force to prosecute cases directly at the High Courts. He also called for Chief Magistrates’ Courts to be empowered to handle homicide cases to speed up justice delivery and reduce prison congestion.
While acknowledging that periodic amnesties and presidential pardons help ease overcrowding, he said such measures only provide temporary relief and fail to address the root causes of the problem.
He also urged defense lawyers to diligently handle the cases of their clients to prevent unnecessary delays.
“The Nigerian Bar Association should educate the public and encourage people to report lawyers who abandon cases or engage in unethical conduct so they can face disciplinary action,” he said.
Another legal practitioner, Rachel David, identified missing case files, slow police investigations, and stringent bail conditions as additional factors delaying justice.
She argued that many suspects remain in custody simply because they cannot afford bail or meet strict bail conditions.
David also criticized the continued reliance on custodial sentences for minor and non-violent offenses, saying courts should make greater use of alternatives such as community service and probation.
She recommended the establishment of more well-equipped correctional centers with adequately trained personnel to improve inmate management and rehabilitation.
David further called for the unconditional release of detainees who have spent more than two years in custody for minor offenses without trial.
Also speaking, lawyer Martin Dangana said awaiting-trial inmates now account for more than half of Nigeria’s prison population because of persistent delays in the justice system.
He attributed the problem to frequent adjournments caused by judges not sitting as scheduled, absent prosecution witnesses, and unprepared legal counsel.
Dangana said suspects often spend months or even years in detention without meaningful progress in their cases.
He urged courts to adopt stricter measures against repeated adjournments and ensure prosecutors comply with timelines for issuing DPP advice.
According to him, speeding up case processing, reviewing the use of holding charges, and strengthening coordination among criminal justice agencies are critical to reducing prison congestion and improving justice delivery.
