7,801 Detainees Freed as PPDC Expands Justice Reform Drive

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has disclosed that 7,801 detainees have secured their freedom through its justice sector interventions aimed at tackling prolonged detention and improving access to justice across Nigeria.

The organisation said the releases were part of a broader reform effort that has impacted more than 20,000 detainees through legal aid services, detention monitoring, court automation projects and case management reforms.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the presentation of PPDC’s 2025 Annual Report and other governance and justice sector publications, the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Abagi, said many of those released had spent months and, in some cases, years in detention without conviction.

She noted that the initiative was designed to address systemic bottlenecks that often keep suspects behind bars for extended periods without trial.

“Our work in the justice sector is aimed at ensuring that no one is left in detention simply because the system failed to function as it should,” Abagi said.

According to her, PPDC’s duty solicitors and legal support teams facilitated the release of the detainees through bail applications, case reviews and sustained engagement with courts and relevant authorities.

She explained that the organisation’s interventions also extended to pro bono legal representation, leading to the acquittal and release of hundreds of detainees, including indigent inmates whose fines were paid to secure their freedom.

Abagi said the organisation had continued to push for structural reforms capable of reducing congestion in correctional facilities while improving efficiency across the justice system.

“A functional justice system must guarantee timely trials, reduce prolonged detention, and ensure that justice is not delayed beyond what is reasonable for any citizen,” she added.

The PPDC boss further highlighted the organisation’s investment in technology-driven reforms, revealing that several courts across the country had been automated under the Court Administration and Case Management Project.

She said the initiative has improved case tracking, strengthened transparency and reduced delays associated with manual record-keeping.

More than 11,000 court files, she added, have been archived and digitised as part of efforts to modernise justice administration and preserve critical records.

Abagi stressed that sustainable reform of the justice sector would require stronger collaboration among courts, correctional institutions, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.

She also called for continued efforts to improve pre-trial processes and eliminate unnecessary detention.

Beyond the justice sector, PPDC raised concerns over the state of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the country.

Abagi said the organisation’s latest assessment revealed that about 80 per cent of the centres depend heavily on donor funding for survival, raising concerns about their long-term sustainability.

“Sexual Assault Referral Centres remain critical to survivor care, but without stable funding and government ownership, their ability to deliver consistent services is seriously undermined,” she said.

She warned that inadequate funding could affect the ability of the centres to continue providing medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance and other services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

In a goodwill message, Senior Programme Officer of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abu Ayuba, commended PPDC for its contributions to justice sector reforms and support for vulnerable citizens.

Ayuba said stronger institutions, reliable data and sustained collaboration among stakeholders remain essential to addressing challenges within the justice system.

He urged government agencies and relevant institutions to implement recommendations contained in the report to improve justice delivery and strengthen protection for vulnerable groups.

The report also recommended greater investment in digital systems, improved coordination among justice sector actors and reforms aimed at reducing delays in the handling of cases across the country.