The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, has ordered the release of 35 inmates from the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State as part of ongoing efforts to decongest correctional facilities across the country.
The freed inmates, 33 men and 2 women, were all awaiting trial, some for extended periods without appearing in court. Among them was Mohammed Abdullahi, who had reportedly spent a year in detention without a single court hearing.
Justice Baba-Yusuf announced the releases during a routine inspection visit to the facility, where he reviewed individual case files and identified detainees eligible for discharge.
He said the exercise was in line with the judiciary’s responsibility to protect human rights and ensure that persons are not unlawfully detained.
The visit follows growing concerns over congestion and delays in Nigeria’s correctional centres. During an earlier assessment of the Keffi facility, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State had raised the issue of prolonged detention of inmates awaiting trial and sought federal intervention through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
While the Chief Judge acknowledged recent advocacy on the matter, he stated that the releases were strictly based on legal review and the need to uphold justice.
He also pledged that similar inspection visits would be carried out periodically to address overcrowding and safeguard the rights of inmates.
The Keffi Custodial Centre, like many correctional facilities in Nigeria, has struggled with overpopulation, leaving detainees vulnerable to poor living conditions and delayed access to justice.
Judicial authorities say the exercise is part of a wider effort to reduce the number of inmates held without trial and to encourage faster prosecution of criminal cases.
