CJ of FCT High Court grants freedom to 30 inmates at Keffi Correctional Centre
By Roseline Okafor, Nasarawa
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) facilitated the release of 17 inmates from the Keffi Correctional Custodial Center by paying their fines.
This act is part of PPDC’s ongoing efforts to support decongestion of prisons and ensure that individuals who should not be incarcerated are freed.
The organization works alongside judicial and correctional authorities to address overcrowding and improve justice access for indigent inmates
This release occurred during a routine visit by FCT High Court Chief Judge, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, who also discharged 13 awaiting trial
.
Breakdown of Released Inmates, 24 inmates released from the new Keffi Custodial Center, 17 convicts released through PPDC’s payment of fines while 7 women released from the old Keffi Medium Custodial Center by the FCT high court chief Judge.
Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf stated that the visit aimed to decongest the correctional center by releasing inmates facing minor cases, such as theft and debt and emphasized his commitment to exercising his power to free those wrongly sent to correctional centers.
Mrs. Lucy James Abagi, CEO of PPDC, explained that their organization is a non-governmental organization working towards transparent governance and citizen empowerment.
According to her, PPDC has been working on access to justice initiatives, including reducing pretrial detention, with support from the United States Mission.
“Our programs are designed
to promote values and initiatives which drive institutional, behavioural and
systemic change on a large scale and in a way that will benefit society and
its development”.
“One of our core of our projects is to reduce the numbers of awaiting trial detainees and currently, it shows that over 80 thousand of young people held in correctional centers across Nigeria which is not good for our economy”.
“we saw people are already granted bail but could not afford 20 thousand naira and women have been here because of genda based violence or any other influence’.
Barr Chioma Onyenucheya- Uko, Chairperson of FIDA Abuja, highlighted FIDA Nigeria’s mission to promote and protect women’s and children’s rights.
She appreciated the Chief Judge’s visit, which enabled the release of deserving inmates, and urged the released inmates to transform themselves through good behavior.
The released inmates were advised to engage in ventures that would make them self-reliant, respecting the Chief Judge’s actions that secured their release.
