CSO Seeks Judicial Reforms As 53,000 Inmates Await Trials

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has raised concerns over the alarming number of inmates awaiting trial in Nigeria.

According to the Nigerian Correctional Service latest data, as of December 2023, over 53,000 inmates are languishing in 253 custodial centres across the country. Many of them have been held for years under alleged harsh conditions without trial.

“This alarming number highlights the urgent need for justice sector reforms,” said Munachi Okoro, Head of Communications and Knowledge Management at PPDC, during a meeting in Yola on Friday.

The meeting was part of the Reforming Detention in Nigeria (RPDN) Phase 2 Project, which brought together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and key stakeholders to discuss solutions to the ongoing issue.

The Phase 2 Project, supported by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), aims to address the increasing number of pre-trial detainees in the country.

In its second phase, the initiative plans to deploy 370 law students and 50 pro bono lawyers to provide legal representation to 1,750 detainees annually, focusing on five key states: Adamawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Nasarawa, and Plateau.

The RPDN project since its inception, has sought to alleviate the strain on Nigeria’s correctional facilities by reducing the proportion of pre-trial detainees and strengthening the country’s Criminal Justice System.

The initiative also aims to improve communication and coordination among stakeholders in the justice sector to ensure faster legal processes for inmates awaiting trial.

The PPDC and its partners stressed that the reforms are essential in other to restore the integrity of the justice system and address the human rights violations that result from prolonged pre-trial detention.