FCT Chief Judge Frees 35 Inmates in Keffi

 

 

FCT Chief Judge Frees 35 Inmates in Keffi

 

Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, has ordered the release of 35 inmates awaiting trial from custodial centres in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

 

Baba-Yusuf granted freedom to the inmates during his visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, on Tuesday.

 

Of the 35 released, 32 were men while three were women.

 

The Chief Judge explained that the exercise was part of efforts to ensure that persons who had no reason to be in detention were not kept unjustly.

 

“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 a day. That is what we have done,” he said.

 

He added that the exercise would be carried out routinely to prevent unnecessary detention, even as he directed magistrates in the FCT to strengthen case management for speedy trials.

 

Programme Officer of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Cynthia Onyeka, lauded the initiative, noting that prolonged pre-trial detention was one of the causes of congestion in custodial centres.

 

According to her, the group paid fines amounting to N1.5 million to support the release of some inmates who could not afford to pay.

 

Also, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja branch, Mrs Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, thanked the Chief Judge and supporting NGOs for securing the freedom of indigent inmates, especially women.

 

Officer in Charge of the Keffi facility, Mr Sumaila Bulus, expressed appreciation for the intervention, stressing that it would ease congestion in the centre currently housing 667 inmates.

 

Bulus, however, appealed for more logistical support, especially in transporting inmates to and from courts in Abuja, saying the two vehicles available were inadequate.