• About
  • Advertise
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, June 19, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
MetrowatchXtra
  • WORLD
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OP-ED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • WORLD
  • BUSINESS
  • POLITICS
  • HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OP-ED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
No Result
View All Result
MetrowatchXtra
No Result
View All Result
Home JUDICIARY

Pre-trial detention: CSO Resolves 1,400 Cases in 5 Years

Ogochukwu Isioma by Ogochukwu Isioma
May 12, 2023
0 0
0
*Typical gravel of a Nigerian court

*Typical gravel of a Nigerian court

By Naomi Sharang

The Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, (NULAI), Nigeria, a civil society organisation resolved 1, 400 pretrial detention cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Keffi, Nasarawa State in five years.

The President of NULAI, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN, said this at an event organised in Abuja on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by NULAI with the support of United States Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement and Partners Global.

The project was on “Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN): Project Retrospective Outlook Close -out Session “.

Ojukwu who was represented by Executive Director NULAI, Dr Mukhtar Nasiru said that the project started in 2018 and had been impactful.

“There is no iota of doubt this is the most impactful project NULAI has ever been involved in.

“This is certain because the reports are showing some amazing statistics of impacts that have been made on different fronts.”

He said “Over 1,400 cases have been resolved; over 500 students have been able to support pro bono lawyers to intervene in cases and these cases have been resolved.

“Over 15, 000 pretrial detention cases are being updated , the records are updated in the correctional centres, that is to show you that the use of technology has helped to solve a lot of systemic problems that are affecting the criminal justice system.”

READ ALSO  Again, Court Adjourns Hearing on Gun-wielding Pastor's Trial over Change of Lawyer | METROWATCH

Ojukwu, however, said that there has been a lot of problems of pretrial detention in the country which has resulted into overcrowding in the correctional centres.

“The figure in Nigeria is 75 per cent and it has been consistent. What I mean by 75 per cent is that of every 100 people in the correctional center, 75 per cent of them are pretrial detainees.

“This means that their cases have not been decided. They have not been convicted. Only 25 per cent have been convicted.

“We have been able to reduce significantly all the problems that make cases to be adjourned.”

He said that with the effort by the CSO, the period of adjournment has been reduced from 31 days to 14 days.

Also speaking, David Greene, Charge’ d’ Affaires, U.S. Embassy, Nigeria, said that Nigeria was not alone in facing the challenge of pretrial detention.

“It is universal. The fundamental principle of any democratic society like Nigeria is not just the rule of law, but there must be a functioning justice system,” he said.

He said that the project was implemented in the FCT and Keffi adding that the U.S. would replicate this role to include additional states in north central region.

Similarly, NULAI’s Programme Manager, Mahmud Yusuf said that the organisation had been working with the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) to achieve its goal.

READ ALSO  Lagos Socialite Behind Petrol Souvenir, Chidinma Ogbulu, Jailed 2 Years

He said: “With a little over 70,000 detainees in detention in correctional centres across states, 63,000 are pretrial detainees which constitute a high percentage of pretrial detainees.

“The problem with pretrial detention is a system wide problem not just from the correctional centres but from the point of entry, you look at what are the courts doing, what are the prosecuting agencies doing.

“And then the resulting effect is the congestion and then the resultant pretrial situation we have across the country.”

He said that the way out was to look at the structures in place to address pretrial detention.

For Controller-General Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS),.Haliru Nababa, appreciated NULAI’S effort at
reducing cases of pretrial detainees in the country.

Nababa was represented by Controller, Custodial, Adamu Yahaya.

He said that the major challenge in the custodial centres was overcrowding of the facilities.

“NULAI has supported the service in addressing the issue of overcrowding of inmates awaiting trial in custodial centres,” he said.

Also speaking, Ms Deborah Mancini, Director of the Africa PartnersGlobal said the organisation had been discussing issues relating to pretrial detention in Nigeria.

“We realise that Nigeria had gone through a very progressive legal reform process where they have put in place the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

“The Act gave a lot of opportunity to ensure that pretrial detention cases were handled more effectively in the courts.”

(NAN)

Tags: CourtDetentionNULAI
Ogochukwu Isioma

Ogochukwu Isioma

Ogochukwu Isioma is a Bachelor of Arts degree holder in Linguistics Studies from the University of Benin, and a Master's student in International Affairs and Diplomacy at the Amadu Bello University, Zaria. With over half a decade-long active journalism practice, Ogochukwu is the Founder and Publisher of popular education-focused online medium, CAMPUS GIST, and currently writes for METROWATCH. He can be reached via ogochukwuisioma@gmail.com.

RELATED POST

Pregnant Woman Drags Co-wife to Court for Allegedly Calling Her Names
JUDICIARY

I Can No Longer Bear His Long S3x Sessions, 37-year-old Divorce-seeking Woman Tells Court

by Kemi Sheriepha
March 25, 2025
0

By Patience Yakubu A 37-year-old woman, Linda Stephen, on Tuesday approached a Kaduna Customary Court, seeking the dissolution of her...

Read moreDetails
Pregnant Woman Drags Co-wife to Court for Allegedly Calling Her Names

Pregnant Woman Drags Co-wife to Court for Allegedly Calling Her Names

March 12, 2025
Akpabio: Court Cannot Stop Senate from Probing Natasha, Says Ubani

Akpabio: Court Cannot Stop Senate from Probing Natasha, Says Ubani

March 5, 2025
Adeleke! PDP Takes Early Lead in Osun Governorship Poll

JUST IN | Court Orders PDP to Proceed With South-South Zonal Congress

February 21, 2025
Court Dismisses Emefiele’s Plea Challenging Jurisdiction in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Case

I will Expose Corruption in JAMB, Sacked Deputy Director Tells Court

January 22, 2025
Court Dismisses Emefiele’s Plea Challenging Jurisdiction in $4.5bn, N2.8bn Case

Alleged $9.6Bn P&ID Scam: I Have No Witness to Call, Briton Tells Abuja Court

January 16, 2025
Load More

APO

Recent Posts

  • Benue: Give Me Land for Ranching, Join Me Fight Enemies, Tinubu to Gov Alia, Nigerians
  • PRNigeria Fellows Express Solidarity with Publisher Over NIPSS Ordeal
  • Israel Bombs Over 1,100 Iranian Targets in Major Offensive
  • Nigerian Senate Screens 17 Nominees for Key Rivers Agencies
  • PRNigeria Founder Demands ₦1 Billion, Reinstatement in Legal Notice to NIPSS Over “Unjust Withdrawal”

Recommended

Crypto ban: CBN fines Banks N800mn for Concealing Customers’ Deals

FAKE NEWS | ‘Banks not Shutting Down Services for Elections’

2 years ago
US President, Trump Threatens South Africa, Gives Reason

Trump Agrees to Pause Tariffs on Canada, Mexico

4 months ago
MetrowatchXtra

MetrowatchXtra is an online daily newspaper poised to act as a catalyst in our debate and desire for well-governed Nigeria and provide the much-needed platform for all, irrespective of social, religious or political divide, to express their views.
Metrowatchxtra Nigeria

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2024 Metrowatchxtra Nigeria Published by Miraculous Media Connect Limited. All rights reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Health

© 2024 Metrowatchxtra Nigeria Published by Miraculous Media Connect Limited. All rights reserved