A CRITIQUE OF THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL'S POWER, TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN NIGERIA

The Attorney —General is the principal law Officer of the Federation or of a State as the case may be. He is empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to institute, take over and continue or discontinue Criminal proceedings against any person before any Court of law in Nigeria except Court Martial. The Attorney — General also issues legal advice or such other directives to the Police or any other law enforcement Agency in respect of an offence created by either an Act of the National Assembly or the law of State house of Assembly. The Problem however is that delay in the issuance of legal advice by the Attorney — General constitutes one of the problems bedeviling the administration of criminal Justice in Nigeria. Using the doctrinal method of research, the paper discusses the Attorney - General legal advice in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria. The paper finds that delay in the issuance of Legal advice by the Attorney — General Defeats the purpose of the law of ensuring speedy dispensation of criminal justice in Nigeria. The paper recommends that there should be time frame for the Issuance of Attorney — General Legal Advice in criminal justice administration in Nigeria.