NHRC Partners to Tackle Prison Congestion, Release Trivial Offenders

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced a collaboration with the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria to address prison congestion and efforts to "uphold the human rights of persons deprived of liberty in Nigeria." According to a statement by Fatimah Mohammed, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC, the partnership was formalised on Monday, when the National President of the Papal Knights and Supreme Knight of the KSM, Steve Adehi, led a delegation to the commission's headquarters in Abuja. The NHRC will draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KSM and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria. This partnership aims to reduce prison congestion by reviewing and releasing individuals detained for minor, bailable offenses who are unable to meet bail conditions. Over 50,000 awaiting-trial inmates are detained in Nigerian prisons, with many held for trivial sums of as little as ₦5,000.

The NHRC's National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), Kabiru Elayo, will oversee the implementation of the MoU across the commission's 36 state offices. The partnership will focus on joint interventions to facilitate the review and release of individuals detained for minor offenses. It will also ensure sustainable post-release mechanisms, including establishing halfway homes, providing vocational training, and providing essential care and support packages for reintegration and reducing recidivism.

Steve Adehi, National President of the Papal Knights and Supreme Knight of the KSM, noted that the collaboration emanated from the "continued detention of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) for minor offences or due to their inability to meet nominal bail conditions." In his statement, he emphasized that the initiative is crucial in addressing issues of prison overcrowding. The NHRC plans to conduct human rights capacity-building programmes for correctional officers to align with Nigeria's obligations under the Nigerian constitution and international human rights standards.

The partnership is part of ongoing efforts to address Nigeria's persistent prison overcrowding. In May, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ordered Nigeria to decongest its overcrowded correctional facilities after the Centre for Community Law approached the Court to challenge the prolonged detention of persons awaiting trial in correctional facilities. In July 2025, the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions called for an urgent infrastructural overhaul of Nigeria's correctional centres, citing years of neglect and chronic overcrowding.

A significant aspect of the partnership is the review of cases of awaiting-trial inmates for possible release. According to Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the NHRC, many individuals have been detained for minor offenses or due to trivial bail conditions. He cited the example of people held for detention for sums as low as ₦5,000.

In the next phase, the NHRC will conduct a thorough assessment of all awaiting-trial inmates to identify those eligible for release. The partnership will work to establish halfway homes and provide vocational training for inmates. This is crucial in ensuring a smoother reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. The collaboration aims to address the root causes of prison overcrowding, including the prolonged detention of individuals awaiting trial. This will ultimately lead to a reduction in prison congestion and the promotion of human rights in Nigeria's correctional system.

The partnership will not only address prison congestion but also promote the welfare of inmates. The NHRC will work with the KSM and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria to provide essential care and support packages for reintegration. This will enable released inmates to become productive members of society, reducing the likelihood of recidivism. The NHRC's collaboration with the KSM and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria is a significant step towards addressing prison overcrowding in Nigeria. The partnership aims to promote the human rights of individuals deprived of liberty and provide a more humane correctional system.

"Every intervention which secures liberty and restores dignity constitutes a meaningful contribution to society," said Tony Ojukwu, addressing the partnership's objectives. The partnership's focus on promoting human rights and reducing prison congestion aligns with Nigeria's obligations under the Nigerian constitution and international human rights standards.

The NHRC's collaboration with the KSM and the Papal Knights and Medalists of Nigeria marks a significant milestone in efforts to address prison overcrowding in Nigeria. The partnership's emphasis on promoting human rights and reducing recidivism is crucial in creating a more humane correctional system. Ultimately, the partnership aims to reduce prison congestion, promote the welfare of inmates, and ensure a smoother reintegration into society.

Key Facts:

• Over 50,000 awaiting-trial inmates are detained in Nigerian prisons.
• Many individuals have been detained for minor offenses or due to trivial bail conditions.
• The partnership aims to review cases of awaiting-trial inmates for possible release.
• The NHRC will establish halfway homes and provide vocational training for inmates.
• The partnership aims to promote human rights in Nigeria's correctional system.