Nigeria: 90 Inmates Held Beyond Legal Limits in Benue - Panel Report

A multi-stakeholder monitoring committee has uncovered lapses in the administration of criminal justice in Benue State, following the discovery of over 90 inmates held for years without trial, in alleged violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).

The findings emerged during a validation meeting organised by CLEEN Foundation with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, bringing together security agencies, legal practitioners and civil society actors.

Chairman of the Independent ACJL Monitoring Committee, Dr Victoria Daaor, said yesterday that the body identified systemic failures during visits to correctional facilities in Makurdi and Gboko, where inmates lack access to justice, legal representation and basic welfare.

She said that 57 inmates were profiled in Gboko alone, exposing legal aid gaps, poor infrastructure and inhumane conditions.

She added that some inmates require psychiatric and psychosocial support, indicating deeper institutional neglect within the correctional system.

The Vice Chairman of the committee, Barr. Awashima Addingi, disclosed that at least 34 inmates in Makurdi have spent up to three years in detention without trial -- far exceeding the ACJL provision that mandates trials to begin and conclude within three months.

She further revealed that several detainees are being held for minor offences such as theft for periods longer than the maximum sentence prescribed by law, while others remain in custody despite being granted bail.

Also, Victor Eboh of Lawyers Alert noted that past interventions by the committee at the state level had led to the release of inmates arrested for minor offences, stressing that continued oversight remains critical to decongest correctional centres.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Benue State, Stephen Nwanchor, said the service facilitates access to justice by securing pro bono legal representation for inmates without lawyers, including through the Legal Aid system.

Read the original article on Daily Trust.