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AKURE (NAN) - Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) reports that over 65 percent of the population in correctional facilities across the nation are currently awaiting trial.
The NBA president, Afam Osigwe, made this disclosure during the association's national executive council meeting held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, on Thursday.
He pointed out that this situation has resulted in overcrowding in prisons throughout the country and expressed concern that delays in the trial process are infringing on inmates' rights.
“We need to concentrate on pre-trial detainees, as they constitute more than 65 percent of those in prisons. We are concerned about individuals who remain in incarceration while their cases go untried, or those whose cases are taking an unreasonably long time to resolve due to various delays.
Some end up serving longer in prison than they would have if they had been convicted, potentially suffering from illnesses or even dying in custody,” stated the NBA president.
Osigwe revealed that the association has tasked its Human Rights Committee to collaborate with chief judges across the states to visit correctional facilities and evaluate the inmates.
He emphasized that the committee would recommend to chief judges the release of defendants who have not faced prosecution, aiming to prevent unnecessary detention periods.
“The Chief Judges should instruct all magistrates that whenever they issue a remand order, a return date for review must be established. If the prosecution or Ministry of Justice does not file charges, those individuals should be released to ensure that no one languishes in detention without being brought to court,” he urged.
He added that it is essential for courts to, in compliance with the Police Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, visit detention centers—whether they belong to the police, military, DSS, or NDLEA—to monitor how long people have been detained.
He further stated that individuals should either be granted bail, charged in court, or completely released, emphasizing that the NBA is promoting advocacy to uphold legal standards and prevent the dire conditions prevalent in many detention facilities.
“The bar is engaging in this initiative to ensure that those who have no valid grounds for being detained are freed and that individuals do not spend excessive periods in detention without formal charges being filed against them.”
Earlier, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his address, remarked that the NBA serves as the leading professional organization for lawyers in Nigeria, significantly influencing the country’s legal and democratic landscape.
Represented by the state's attorney general and commissioner for justice, Kayode Ajulo, Aiyedatiwa acknowledged the NBA's ongoing commitment to advocating for judicial independence, human rights protection, and government accountability.
He noted this gathering reflects an opportunity to renew the professional relationships among legal practitioners and advocates for justice.
“This moment calls for reflection, decisive measures, and renewed dedication to the principles that have historically guided our esteemed profession: justice, fairness, and persistent adherence to the rule of law,” he concluded.
