The House of Representatives has urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to review cases where individuals have been held in pre-trial detention for an extended period and take necessary steps to expedite their trials.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep Ahmed Sani Muhammad on Thursday to that effect at the plenary session.
In addition, the House also urged the Judiciary to adopt innovative case management strategies to ensure timely hearings, with special consideration for individuals who have endured an undue amount of time in pre-trial detention.
While moving the motion, the lawmakers noted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the International Human Rights Standard underscored the fundamental right to a fair and speedy trial.
He observed that numerous individuals were languishing in prolonged pre-trial detention, often exceeding legal limits by years, thereby violating their rights, and contributing to prison overcrowding.
He further said that a significant number of these individuals are detained for minor offences requiring minimal or no extensive investigation.
He expressed concerns that the delay in adjudicating legal matters results in prison congestion, violates the rights of the accused, and erodes public confidence in the judicial system.
According to him, “alarmed that trial delays dissuade witness appearances and compromise the integrity of the judicial process. Cognizant of the need to address this systemic injustice and uphold the fundamental right to a fair trial for all”.
While adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Correctional services to investigate the causes of pretrial delays, propose necessary reform and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
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