The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN) has facilitated the release of 36 inmates from two custodial centres in Nasarawa State. This is in a renewed push to decongest correctional facilities across the country.

The exercise, conducted under LACoN’s jail delivery initiative, saw the discharge of 24 inmates from the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, along with six female inmates from the Old Keffi Custodial Centre.

The releases were carried out under the leadership of the Director General of LACoN, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar, who was accompanied by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf.

Abubakar attributed the success of the initiative to collaborative efforts from individuals and organizations, particularly the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), a non-governmental body dedicated to justice sector reforms.

Speaking to journalists during the visit, Justice Baba Yusuf stated the importance of ensuring that people unjustly detained are given the opportunity to regain their freedom.

“All we want is to restore hope to the hopeless. Some of these individuals should never have been in custody in the first place,” he stated.

He also pointed out challenges in the justice delivery system, particularly the lack of logistics support needed to transport inmates to court for trial, which often results in prolonged detention.

“The correctional centers need to be properly equipped with necessary facilities. This will not only support justice delivery but also prevent situations where innocent citizens remain behind bars due to systemic delays,” the Chief Judge added.

Lucy Abagi, CEO of the Public and Private Development Centre, reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to reducing overcrowding in correctional facilities nationwide.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja chapter, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, decried the circumstances that led to the detention of the six released women.

She pledged increased efforts by FIDA to educate women on their legal rights and prevent future incarcerations stemming from ignorance or marginalization.

Barrister Oliver Chukwuma, Acting Director of the Decongestion Department at LACoN, was tasked with following up on pending cases to facilitate further releases.

In his remarks, the Controller of the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, Yau Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the visiting team, describing the initiative as a welcome step toward easing overcrowding and improving conditions within the facilities.

The jail delivery exercise will continue with scheduled visits to the Kuje and Suleja correctional centres.