As part of an ongoing justice reform effort, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court has released 56 inmates from two custodial centres under the Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Chapter, while convicting 33 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, in a separate ruling.
The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, led the jail delivery exercise across the Kuje and Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centres.
The NCoS FCT Public Relations Officer, Samson Duza, confirmed this in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja.
According to Duza, 30 inmates were freed from Kuje Custodial Centre, and another 26 from Suleja.
“During the case review at Kuje Custodial Centre, the Chief Judge discharged five inmates, among whom two awaiting-trial inmates were granted bail. Three convicted inmates had their fines paid by the Brekete family, Legend Golden Care Foundation, and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),” he added.
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Meanwhile, in a notable judgment delivered the same day, Justice Belgore ruled on a case involving 58 IMN members detained at the Kuje facility. Of the group, 25 were discharged and acquitted, including one woman, while 33 were convicted. Sentencing for the convicted Shiites has been scheduled for next week.
“At Suleja Custodial Centre, a total of 102 cases were reviewed and 26 inmates discharged. Among the discharged inmates, five were convicted, while 21 were awaiting trial,” Duza stated.
The NCoS PRO also disclosed that in an act of compassion, Justice Baba-Yusuf personally covered the transportation costs of one inmate and provided compensation for another, totaling N100,000.
Controller of Corrections for the FCT Command, Olatunbosun Ajibogun, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge and his team, praising their continued dedication to reducing congestion in correctional facilities. He reaffirmed the command’s full support in maintaining an efficient and humane criminal justice system.
This exercise is part of a broader push by the NCoS and justice sector stakeholders to ensure quicker access to justice and alleviate overcrowding in Nigerian prisons.
