Breaking: FCT Chief Judge Frees 35 Inmates from Keffi Correctional Centre as NGOs Pay Over N1.5m in Fines

By David Odama

No fewer than 35 inmates of the Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State regained their freedom on Wednesday following the intervention of the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf.

Justice Baba-Yusuf ordered the release of the inmates during his visit to the Keffi Custodial Centre in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Speaking with journalists after the exercise, the Chief Judge explained that the releases were in line with his routine custodial visits, aimed at ensuring that individuals are not kept in custody unnecessarily when they ought to be free.

He emphasized that the visits are primarily to decongest correctional facilities by identifying and releasing persons who should not remain in custody.

Justice Baba-Yusuf also disclosed that new dates have been fixed for inmates whose cases are facing delays in court, stressing that magistrates have been directed to improve case management strategies for quicker dispensation of justice. He further instructed the Director of Magistrates to carry out oversight functions to ensure smooth proceedings and prevent undue delays.

Reacting to the development, Ms. Cynthia Onyeka, Programme Officer at the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), commended the Chief Judge for personally reviewing cases and setting free inmates wrongfully held, thereby helping to decongest custodial facilities.

Onyeka noted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of pre-trial detention globally, leading to overcrowding in correctional centres. She explained that PPDC supported the initiative by paying fines worth N1.5 million, which facilitated the release of some inmates.

“In activities like this, we support the Chief Judge by paying fines. Today, we offset fines amounting to N1.5 million to ensure that more people regain their freedom and to reduce congestion in the custodial centres,” she said.

Similarly, another NGO, Hope Behind Bars, cleared fines and compensations totaling N400,000 for some inmates.

Also lending her voice, Bar. Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch, praised the Chief Judge for allowing mercy to prevail over justice, while also acknowledging NGOs that contributed financially to secure the releases.

Earlier, the Officer in Charge of Keffi Custodial Centre, Sumaila Bulus, expressed gratitude to the FCT Chief Judge for the intervention, noting that the facility currently houses 667 inmates.

Bulus further appealed for assistance with utility vehicles to transport inmates to various courts across the FCT, lamenting that the two available vehicles frequently break down and are insufficient to convey the over 90 inmates who attend court daily. According to him, it sometimes takes until 9 p.m. for the last batch of inmates to return to the facility.