By Igba Kuza Lafia
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) and a high court judge in Abuja, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, have released 30 inmates at the correctional custodial center, keffi, Nasarawa state.
The PPDC, as a body facilitated the release of 17 inmates by paying their fines while the Federal Capital Territory FCT, high court chief Judge also discharged 13 awaiting trial inmates.
This release occurred during a routine visit by the FCT High Court Chief Judge, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state over the weekend.
The breakdown of the released Inmates indicated that 24 of them regained there freedom from the new Keffi custodial center while others
were freed from the old Keffi medium custodial center.
Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, explained that the visit was aimed at decongesting the correctional center by releasing inmates facing minor cases of theft and debt emphasized his commitment and power to free those wrongly sent to correctional centers.
The CEO of PPDC, Mrs. Lucy James Abagi, explained that their organization is a non-governmental organization working towards transparent governance and citizen empowerment.
According to her, PPDC has been working on access to justice initiatives, including reducing pretrial detention, with support from the United States Mission.
“Our programs are designed
to promote values and initiatives that drives institutional, behavioral and
systemic change on a large scale and in a way that will benefit society and
its development,
“One of our core projects is to reduce the numbers of awaiting trial detainees as result shows over 80 thousand young people held in correctional centers across Nigeria, which is not good for our economy,
“we saw people already granted bail but could not afford 20 thousand naira and women have been here because of gender based violence or any other influence,
Speaking earlier, Barr Chioma Onyenucheya- Uko, Chairperson of FIDA Abuja, highlighted FIDA Nigeria’s mission to promote and protect women’s and children’s rights.
She appreciated the Chief Judge’s visit, which enabled the release of deserving inmates, urged them to transform themselves through good behavior, further advised the released persons to engage in ventures that would make them self-reliant.