ECOWAS Court Sets Deadline for Nigeria to Ease Prison Overcrowding
Senior lawyers are urging the government to implement a recent ECOWAS Court ruling that orders Nigeria to tackle prison congestion. They say slow court processes, prolonged detention without trial and limited legal aid are key drivers of the crisis. The court directed Nigeria to review cases of prolonged detention, adopt a prison decongestion policy and use non-custodial sentences like community service, probation and parole for minor offences. A progress report must be submitted within six months showing how many inmates have been released or tried. Using 2024 data, rights groups noted that out of 79,237 inmates nationwide, almost two-thirds await trial. Many detainees remain in custody despite qualifying for bail or having already served a shorter sentence. Lawyers and human rights groups warn lasting reform will depend on faster court processes, stronger investigations, improved legal aid and wider use of alternatives to imprisonment.
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