By Admin
The Knights of St. Mulumba and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria have launched an initiative aimed at securing the release of inmates detained for minor offences and reducing congestion in correctional centres across Nigeria.
The intervention, unveiled in Abuja during a meeting with the National Human Rights Commission, will focus on assisting Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) who remain behind bars simply because they are unable to meet bail conditions despite facing minor and bailable offences.
Leading the delegation was the National President of the Papal Knights and Supreme Knight of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Steve Adehi, who expressed concern over the growing number of Nigerians languishing in correctional facilities despite not having been convicted of any crime.
According to Adehi, many detainees remain in custody not because they are guilty, but because poverty has prevented them from meeting bail requirements or because they have become victims of prolonged unlawful detention.
Responding to the initiative, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, described the situation as a serious indictment on Nigeria's justice system.
Ojukwu revealed that the Commission had documented cases of Nigerians being held in detention over debts and disputes involving as little as ₦5,000, stressing that restoring the freedom of such individuals is both a legal and moral obligation.
Under the partnership, the Knights and the NHRC will jointly identify inmates detained for minor offences solely because they cannot satisfy bail conditions and work towards facilitating their release.
Beyond securing freedom for affected inmates, the initiative also includes rehabilitation and reintegration programmes such as vocational skills acquisition, halfway homes and support packages aimed at helping former inmates rebuild their lives and avoid returning to crime.
As part of broader correctional reforms, the partners also plan to organise human rights training programmes for correctional officers to promote humane treatment of inmates in line with Nigeria's Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and internationally recognised standards, including the United Nations' Nelson Mandela Rules.
The Head of the NHRC's National Preventive Mechanism, Kabiru Elayo, warned that without proper reintegration structures, many former inmates could find themselves back in custody shortly after release.
To formalise the arrangement, the NHRC is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Knights of St. Mulumba and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria, after which implementation will commence through the Commission's offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.