FCT Chief Judge Grants Freedom to 30 Inmates in Keffi.

In a bid to decongest correctional facilities and address judicial inefficiencies, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has released 30 inmates awaiting trial from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi. This intervention, conducted during an official visit, saw Justice Baba-Yusuf personally review cases, highlighting the detention of individuals without justifiable legal basis.

The Chief Judge attributed prison overpopulation to factors including magistrate delays, police inefficiencies, and logistical challenges. This initiative aims to expedite the judicial process and ensure that only those convicted of serious crimes are incarcerated. Similar visits to other FCT custodial centres are planned.

The move has been lauded by stakeholders, including the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), who emphasized the need to differentiate between civil and criminal offenses and address the misuse of legal power leading to unjust detention, particularly of women. The Controller of the Keffi Custodial Centre also welcomed the intervention, noting the positive impact on facility management.