53,000 inmates awaiting trials in Nigeria – Centre

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) says 53,000 inmates are awaiting trials across 253 custodial centres in the country.

According to the Nigerian Correctional Service’s latest data, as of December 2023, these inmates have been held without trial for years, under dire conditions.

“This alarming number highlights the urgent need for justice sector reforms,” said Munachi Okoro, Head of Communications and Knowledge Management at PPDC.

To address this crisis, the centre hosted a justice sector reform meeting in Yola, on Friday, bringing together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and stakeholders.

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The meeting is part of the Reforming Detention in Nigeria Phase 2 (RPDC) Project, supported by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

Okoro said the RPDN Phase 2 will deploy 370 law students and 50 pro bono lawyers to provide legal representation to 1,750 detainees annually, focusing on five new locations – Adamawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Nasarawa, and Plateau states.

Since its inception, the RPDN project has aimed to address the rising number of pre-trial detainees in Nigeria’s correctional facilities.

The project’s objectives include reducing pre-trial detention proportions, strengthening Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System, and improving communication among stakeholders.