The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, recently facilitated the release of at least 30 inmates awaiting trial from two custodial centres in Keffi, Nasarawa State. This intervention was made possible through the efforts of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), a non-governmental organization, working alongside Baba-Yusuf, who made an official visit to the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre on Thursday.
According to reports, 24 of the discharged inmates were from the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, while the remaining 6, all females, were from the Keffi Old Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Speaking to the press after the visit, Baba-Yusuf explained that the goal of the initiative was to ensure that individuals who do not belong behind bars are granted their freedom. “We are here to bring hope to those who have none. Many individuals should never have been imprisoned in the first place,” he said. “This visit is aimed at making sure that those who do not belong here are not kept incarcerated for even a day.”
Baba-Yusuf assured that this effort would continue, with future visits planned for other custodial centres, including those in Kuje and Suleja, to ensure that the rights of individuals who should not be in detention are respected.
He attributed the overcrowding and wrongful incarceration in the custodial centres to several factors, including the inefficiency of magistrates, police, and the inadequate logistical support at correctional facilities that hinders the regular transport of inmates to court. “It’s essential that these institutions are properly equipped to carry out their duties effectively, as this will speed up justice delivery and prevent the wrongful detention of people who should be living freely,” he stated.
Lucy Abagi, the CEO of PPDC, also voiced her support for the initiative, emphasizing the organization’s dedication to decongesting custodial centres across the country. She praised Baba-Yusuf for his personal involvement and said, “We witnessed individuals who had been granted bail but were unable to pay even as little as N20,000. Some were incarcerated due to Gender-Based Violence, with women being punished simply for rejecting abuse, which is a clear violation of their rights.”
Abagi expressed hope that other Chief Judges across Nigeria would follow Baba-Yusuf’s lead in carrying out similar actions. “The presence of the FCT Chief Judge here today marks a significant step in the right direction. We hope this sets a precedent for other states to take similar measures.”
In a related statement, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja, condemned the wrongful detention of women and pledged to enhance women’s awareness of their rights. “What we witnessed was an abuse of power, with some individuals using their influence to wrongly enforce the law against these women,” Onyenucheya-Uko explained. “Many of them have not been convicted; they were simply awaiting trial, which highlights the importance of educating women about their rights and how to seek legal support when needed.”
Yau Ibrahim, the Controller of the Keffi Medium Security Custodial Centre, also expressed his gratitude for the visit, noting that it aligns with the correctional officers’ goal of reducing overcrowding in the facilities. “We appreciate the Chief Judge’s visit, as it reflects our shared desire to ease the congestion in our centres,” he said.
