By Motunrayo Anibaba
As part of a critical routine under the Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN) Phase II project, PPDC carried out a correctional center audit at the Suleja Custodial Center. This audit was carried out with the support of two of our project partners, the NBA Bwari Branch, and Veritas University Law Clinic Bwari. This monthly exercise is a vital moment to gauge our progress, measure the impact of our interventions, and reaffirm our commitment to bringing justice to those who need it most.
The goal is simple but profound, to decongest the Nigeria Correctional Center by providing free legal representation for those awaiting trial, support the upgrade and deployment of equipment to enhance the Correctional Information Management System CIMS.
We met with officials from various departments, receiving firsthand insights into how our interventions shape the lives of those awaiting pretrial detainees. There was a glimmer of progress, for us one of the most significant moments of this audit. For the first time, the number of convicts outweighed the number of pretrial detainees. It was a sign that the backlog is finally shifting. More inmates now have legal representation, a clear victory for our cause.
We also conducted interviews with pretrial detainees who had no legal representation. One of them was a 17-year-old boy, a child whose life had been caught in a web far too complex for him to navigate alone. His eyes held a quiet sorrow, the kind that comes from being trapped in a place where time seems to stretch endlessly. But there was hope, too. Our partner, the dedicated NBA Bwari branch, pledged to take up his case, offering him the legal support he desperately needed. It was a reminder that our work is far from finished, but we are moving in the right direction.
Walking through the halls of the center, one cannot help but feel the weight of the stories held within its walls. Each detainee represents more than a case number, they are individuals caught in the tide of a system that often overlooks them. Our work here is not just about numbers but about restoring dignity and ensuring that justice is not a privilege reserved for a few.
As we left the Suleja Custodial Center, the weight of our mission felt both heavy and hopeful. We are not just opening doors to legal representation, we are opening doors to a future where justice is within reach for all.
This audit was not just about checking progress but also seeing the human side of a system that too often forgets its humanity. We were reminded that behind every statistic is a story, and behind every case number is a life waiting for justice.
