Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory, has discharged 35 inmates awaiting trial from the two custodial centres in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa.
Mr Baba-Yusuf discharged the inmates during a visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, on Tuesday.
Out of the 35 inmates released, 33 were males, while three were females. The chief judge stated that the visit was intended to ensure that those who do not deserve to be incarcerated can be released.
“There are a lot of people who shouldn’t be here in the first place. This visit is to ensure that people who have no business being here are not kept behind doors, not even for one day. That is what we have done. Today we have been able to set free 35 people who have no business being here, and that is a huge boost,” he said.
He said the exercise will be a routine one to ensure that people are not allowed to suffer unnecessarily in custody when they shouldn’t be there.
“I have also given a directive to the director in charge of the magistrates to do oversight functions on some of these courts whenever their matters come to the courts so that we ensure that the proceedings of the courts run smoothly,” he said.
He added that Magistrates handling cases in the FCT courts have also been chastised to improve their case management strategy so that trials of the cases run expeditiously and inmates are able to know their fate.
Cynthia Onyeka, programme officer at the Public and Private Development Centre, thanked the chief judge for taking the time to visit the custodial centres.
”In Nigeria today, we have a high rate of anti-trial detentions, and this has led to overcrowded custodial centres. So this visit presents an opportunity for the chief judge to come to the custodial centres in an effort to decongest the system,” she said.
She explained that PPDC was in support of the exercise because it wants Nigeria’s justice system to be fair and transparent, and for Nigerians, including the vulnerable, to have access to justice, particularly those who cannot afford legal representation.
“Today, we were able to pay fines amounting to N1.5 million to support the releases of some persons just to ensure that the numbers in the custodial centres are reduced,” she said.
Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, chairperson of the Federation Internationale De Aboragados, translated as International Federation of Women Lawyers, Abuja branch, also appreciated the chief judge for showing mercy to the released inmates.
NAN
