NGO provides 5,000 free legal services to detainees in Adamawa
NGO provides 5,000 free legal services to detainees in Adamawa
The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), an NGO, says it has provided over 5,000 pro bono legal services to various detainees in Adamawa since 2024.
Mrs Lucy Abagi, the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this at the police duty solicitor scheme awareness engagement and scorecard presentation in Yola on Monday.
According to her, the services were carried out under the phase II of Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN) Project.
Abagi, who was represented by Motunrayo Anibaba, said the services included 3,000 legal representations in courts and securing of 2,000 bail applications for indigent detainees.
She noted that the legal intervention had led to a significant reduction in prolonged pretrial detention, and strengthened police-lawyer cooperation in handling cases.
” The centre is supported by the U.S. State Department; deploys volunteer lawyers to police stations to provide free legal assistance to indigent suspects.
“By ensuring early legal intervention, the scheme helps safeguard human rights, reduce unnecessary detention, and alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities.
“This milestone event in Adamawa underscores PPDC’s commitment to reforming pretrial detention practices in Nigeria and ensuring that justice is not a privilege but a right for all,” she said.
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In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Morris Dankombo, commended the Centre for its support and contributions in ensuring reform in the justice sector.
Dankombo, represented by CSP Obeth Masoyi, called on the Police officers to also step down the knowledge acquired at the engagement to their respective Divisions for effective service delivery.
Mr Manasseh Akpa, Kaduna PPDC Programme Coordinator, advised police to thoroughly investigate cases in order not to be misled by lawyers’ petitions, which sometimes turned civil matters to criminal cases.
Buba Muhammad, a stakeholder, appreciated PPDC for the project and urged them to redouble it’s effort in the provision of equipment and conducive working environment for the police and volunteers.
