Uba Sani urges collaboration among Attorneys General for legal reform

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has called on the Body of Attorneys General across Nigeria to work together to review and modernize the country’s legal framework. Speaking at the Body of Attorneys General Conference on Wednesday, he emphasized the need for a unified approach to identify outdated laws, conflicting provisions, and legal gaps.

He stressed that addressing these legal challenges is beyond the capacity of any single state or the federal government alone. “We must collaborate to fund legal aid services, train community paralegals, and adopt technology to simplify the legal process,” Governor Sani said.

Highlighting the inefficiencies caused by fragmented legal efforts, he noted that jurisdictional conflicts and duplicated initiatives have hampered justice delivery. “This disjointed approach frustrates citizens and erodes public trust in the rule of law,” he added.

Governor Sani proposed a continuous framework for dialogue and cooperation between federal and state legal bodies.

He clarified that this would not undermine state or federal authority but instead create a symbiotic relationship for sharing ideas and closing legal gaps.

He also called for the creation of a forum for sharing best practices and aligning reform agendas. “State-led initiatives are laudable, but without harmonization, they result in unequal access to justice across the country,” he warned.

Reaffirming Kaduna State’s commitment, the governor disclosed that the state has begun a comprehensive review of its laws and is willing to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Justice and other states for a unified national legal framework.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), decried the persistent delays in court proceedings and the backlog of cases across the country. He blamed the inefficiencies on inadequate judges, courtrooms, and legal personnel.

“These delays have serious consequences, including the growing number of awaiting-trial inmates in overcrowded detention facilities,” Fagbemi said.

He called for the adoption of innovative solutions such as electronic filing and digitization of court processes, citing the success of Lagos State and the National Industrial Court.

He urged a national strategy to integrate technology into the justice system, not just as a tool of convenience but as a means of transformative change.