The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has paid fines to secure the release of indigent inmates held at Abuja’s overcrowded Kuje Medium Correctional Centre.
PPDC’s chief executive, Lucy James Abagi, disclosed this during a visit to the prison, held alongside the FCT’s chief judge.
Abagi said the Kuje Prison, built for just over 500 inmates, now holds more than 1,000. She described the situation as a “state of emergency.”
Over 10 cases were handled during the visit as part of efforts to ease the pressure on the facility.
PPDC contributed directly to freeing inmates by paying fines, including a sum of ₦90,000 for one inmate. Compensation of over ₦1.3 million was also facilitated in another case.
Abagi highlighted the challenges posed by special cases, including that of a blind inmate convicted of rape. She questioned how the system could provide proper care for such vulnerable prisoners.
According to her, Nigeria’s correctional facilities lack the resources and structures to handle disabled inmates humanely.
She called for reforms to enable correctional centres to manage special cases effectively, with adequate healthcare and welfare services.
The PPDC chief praised the FCT chief judge and correctional service officials, urging continued judicial intervention to reduce the number of inmates awaiting trial.
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