The Federal Government has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to provide pro bono legal services to inmates awaiting trial and empower those who have completed their sentences.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Thursday after an unscheduled visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the Minister, the initiative aims to decongest custodial centres across the country and support the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
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In a post shared on his verified Facebook page, Tunji-Ojo said he embarked on the visit alongside the President of the NBA, Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN. He added that the partnership reflects the government’s commitment to promoting justice and human dignity within the correctional system.
“Our job is to lead from the front, always. Today, alongside the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, I paid an unscheduled visit to the Kuje Custodial Centre where I related first-hand with officers on duty and inmates at the facility,” he wrote.
“At the Ministry of Interior, we are working on partnership opportunities with the NBA, especially in areas of empowering inmates after the completion of their term as well as facilitating pro bono litigation services for those awaiting trials. This way, the Renewed Hope government can further decongest our centres and also prepare inmates for smooth integration into the society to reduce recidivism.”
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The collaboration is expected to strengthen legal access for underprivileged inmates, many of whom have been held for extended periods without trial, while also equipping released individuals with skills and opportunities for a productive life after incarceration.
