The Director General of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, LACON, Mr. Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar says the council will continue to give free representation to inmates of correctional facilities across the country.
He said that in spite of the lean resources of the Council, it is continuously giving approval to the team of lawyers and paralegals to embark on their monthly custodial centers visit to follow up on their clients whose cases are already in various courts within Federal Capital Territory (FCT) environs and Nasarawa State.
“The group with their team leader Barr. Okwuegbu Egenti the Ag. Director of FCT office were in Kuje Correctional Center and interviewed a total number of twenty eight inmates for representation in courts it is sad to note, that majority of the inmate’s crimes are drugs related while about 40% of them are armed robbery, conspiracy and theft. The age bracket of the offenders are from 17years – 35years majorly, teens youths and young adults,”Mr. Abubakar said.
He said that there is succour because the facilities within the Centre are very good and meet international standards and the inmates, apart from those awaiting trial, can benefit from and come out of custody as reformed persons after serving their jail term.
” Furthermore, The ICT unit is commendable as inmates are seen making use of the computers systems for their lectures and so on,”he said.
The Welfare Officer of Kuje Correctional Service, Mr. Jacob, appreciated the Council for the good job they are doing and encouraged them to do more.
He noted that despite the Legal Aid Council lean resources, which however is applicable to other MDAs, sixty three inmates were taken to various courts for their cases though some days it is between 30 – 35 inmates.
He was also glad to inform the Council that some of the inmates represented in the month of July, 2024 later met their bail conditions and were discharged.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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