Legal Aid Council Interviews Suleja Inmates for Justice

The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON), under the leadership of Director Aliu Bagudu Abubakar, has initiated efforts to decongest prisons by interviewing awaiting trial inmates at the Suleja Correctional Centre. Despite limited resources, LACON consistently conducts quarterly visits to correctional facilities nationwide.

The latest visit was led by Assistant Director Ogechukwu Ibenegbu, who represented the Director of the Decongest Unit, Mr. Oliv Chukwuma. The goal is to assist inmates who lack legal representation and ensure their cases are documented for court proceedings within the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State.

Assistant Controller Sundai Ejeh highlighted major challenges faced by the center, including a lack of operational vehicles, with only four available for a large number of daily court appearances. Additionally, the correctional facility's clinic requires urgent attention, as it lacks basic drugs and functioning laboratory services.

The council also noted the need for training materials to establish an open university response. The initiative aims to empower inmates with vocational skills, including tailoring and bead-making.