FCT Chief Judge Moves to Decongest Keffi Custodial Centres, Frees 35 Inmates
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, on Tuesday ordered the release of 35 inmates from custodial centres in Keffi, Nasarawa State, as part of efforts to decongest prisons and safeguard the rights of detainees.
The freed inmates, comprising 33 males and two females, were discharged during Baba-Yusuf’s visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi. The exercise was supported by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), a non-governmental organisation that paid fines amounting to N1.5 million to facilitate some of the releases.
Among those freed was Mohammed Abdullahi, who had spent one year in custody without a single court appearance.
Speaking after the exercise, the Chief Judge said the initiative was designed to prevent undue suffering of citizens who should not be in detention.
“Today, we have been able to set free 35 people who have no business being here, and that is a huge boost,” Baba-Yusuf said. “This will continue routinely to ensure that the rights of our citizens are guaranteed and well catered for.”
Read Also:
He disclosed that pending cases of inmates experiencing delays had been rectified with new trial dates assigned, while magistrates were instructed to improve case management to ensure expeditious hearings.
The PPDC’s Programme Officer, Cynthia Onyeka, commended the Chief Judge, stressing that overcrowding in custodial centres is largely driven by prolonged pre-trial detentions. She noted that the NGO’s intervention was aimed at promoting fairness and transparency in Nigeria’s justice system, especially for vulnerable detainees.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja branch, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, lauded the intervention, highlighting the importance of NGOs’ support in paying fines for indigent inmates, particularly women.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Keffi Custodial Centre, Sumaila Bulus, also expressed gratitude, noting that the facility currently houses 667 inmates. He, however, appealed for improved logistics, especially vehicles to transport inmates to courts in the FCT.
The exercise comes weeks after an escape incident at the Keffi Custodial Centre on August 12, 2025, when 16 inmates broke free after overpowering security personnel. Seven have since been recaptured, while nine remain at large.
By PRNigeria
