By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has said that about 180 land-related criminal cases are currently being reviewed by the State’s Ministry of Justice. The ongoing review of criminal land cases follows a notice earlier issued by the Attorney General inviting those who are convinced that their criminal cases involving land disputes were civil in nature to submit a complaint to his office for review of the cases.
Speaking on the ongoing review, the Attorney General of Anambra State, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, assured that those whose files are being reviewed will soon be notified of the outcome. In the meantime, he assured that lingering criminal cases emanating from land disputes which are found to be civil will be discontinued so parties can proceed to civil courts. Meanwhile, those cases found to be criminal will be returned for prosecution.
The ongoing review, according to the Attorney General of Anambra State, is in line with the State Government’s determination to ensure that innocent citizens in Anambra are not unduly subjected to criminal prosecution. This, he said, affirms the State Government’s resolve to effectively put an end to the undue criminalization of civil land disputes in Anambra State.
He also noted that the Ministry is still receiving complaints on the criminalization of land disputes and has urged the general public to keep sending in their complaints.





