FCT Chief Judge Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf freed 35 awaiting-trial inmates from Keffi custodial centres.
The intervention, backed by NGOs, aimed to ease congestion and promote fairness in Nigeria’s justice system.
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, has released 35 inmates awaiting trial from two custodial centres in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The release, which took place on Tuesday at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, was facilitated by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), a non-governmental organization. The freed inmates included 33 men and two women. One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Abdullahi, had reportedly been in custody for a year without appearing before any court.
Speaking after the exercise, Justice Baba-Yusuf said the visit aimed to ensure that people who should not be in custody are released promptly. He explained that some of the released inmates had been detained unnecessarily, including those with health challenges or cases without credible evidence.
He added that the visits would now be conducted regularly to prevent prolonged and unjust detentions. According to him, inmates experiencing delays in their cases have been assigned new dates for hearings, while magistrates have been instructed to strengthen case management to speed up trials. He also directed the Magistrates’ Director to step up oversight of courts to ensure smoother proceedings.
PPDC’s Programmes Officer, Cynthia Onyeka, commended the Chief Judge for his intervention, noting that Nigeria’s high rate of pretrial detention has caused widespread overcrowding in correctional centres. She said PPDC supported the exercise to promote fairness and access to justice for vulnerable citizens who cannot afford legal representation.
Onyeka disclosed that the NGO paid fines totaling ₦1.5 million to help secure the release of some inmates, stressing that such efforts directly reduce congestion and give people a second chance.
Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch, praised the Chief Judge and thanked NGOs like PPDC for consistently paying fines to secure the release of especially female inmates who are unable to meet financial or compensatory requirements imposed by courts.
The Officer in Charge of the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, Sumaila Bulus, also thanked Justice Baba-Yusuf for the visit and the releases, saying the intervention would ease congestion in a facility currently housing 667 inmates. He appealed for more logistical support, particularly for transporting inmates to court, noting that the two vehicles available were no longer adequate for the rising number of court appearances.
