Magistrates in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) courts have been reprimanded by judicial authorities for poor case management.
The FCT Chief Judge, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf expressed his dissatisfaction during a visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where 35 inmates awaiting trial were released.
The Chief Judge believed that more efficient case management and faster trials will allow inmates to have their cases resolved promptly, thereby helping to decongest prisons.
To address the issue, he has directed the Director overseeing magistrates to conduct oversight functions in some courts to ensure that proceedings are handled efficiently.
Persecondnews reports that 33 male and two female inmates were released in the intervention facilitated by the Public and Private Development Centre, a non-governmental organization.
One of the inmates, Mohammed Abdullahi, was discharged after being incarcerated for a year without a single appearance in any court.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after the exercise, the Chief Judge said the essence of the prison visit was to ensure that those who are not supposed to be in the facility are allowed to go free.
“Today, we have been able to set free 35 people who have no business being here, and that is a huge boost,” he said.
He explained that the exercise would be a routine one to ensure that people are not allowed to suffer unnecessarily in custody when they should not be there.
He said:“Some of those we have set free are those who are not well, people who have been here unnecessarily for a long time and people who have not been cited for any genuine offence.
“This will continue to be a routine thing to ensure that the rights of our citizens are guaranteed and well catered for.”
He also noted that all other inmates facing one delay or the other in the conclusion of their cases have been assured that their cases will be attended to, and new dates given to them to appear in court.
“We have rectified all that, and dates have been given to all those who are involved in that category,” he said.
Also speaking, Programmes Officer at the Public and Private Development Centre, Cynthia Onyeka, appreciated the Chief Judge for taking out time to visit the custodial centres to set free those who are not supposed to be there and also decongest the centres.
She said: “This is because in Nigeria, we have a high rate of anti trial detentions and this has led to overcrowded custodial centres across Nigeria.
“So, this activity presents an opportunity for the Chief Judge to come to the custodial centres in an effort to decongest the system.”
She further explained that the PPDC supported the exercise because it wants the Nigeria’s justice system to be fair and transparent, and for all Nigerians to have access to justice including the vulnerable who cannot afford legal representation.
“For activities like this, when we come, we support the Chief Judge by paying fines and today, we were able to pay fines amounting to N1.5 Million to support the releases of some persons just to ensure that the numbers in the custodial centres reduce,” she said.
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