In a bid to reaffirm its core mandate of advocating for the rights of the underprivileged in society, a civil society organisation, Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development, FPIL&D, on Saturday visited the Ikoyi Custodial Correctional Centre in Lagos to assess the well-being of inmates and provide free legal services for individuals who may have been unjustly incarcerated.
The maiden trip recorded a significant one hundred and thirty-seven cases of inmates awaiting trial who have been incarcerated in the correctional facility between the period of 4 to 11 years.
According to the Founder and Executive Director of FPIL&D, Yusuf Nurudeen Esq, he disclosed that the move aimed at reinforcing the foundation’s commitment to address the challenges faced by vulnerable indigents in custody and work towards ensuring that their voices are heard; is geared towards a fairer and more just legal system.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the get-together party for volunteers and a team of lawyers on the visitation train, Nurudeen said, “Our mandate is to advocate for the rights of the underprivileged in society and that is why we have come together with a team of lawyers alongside volunteers drawn from the public to join the crusade of visiting the Ikoyi Custodial Correctional Centre in order to assess the well-being of inmates and provide pro-bono legal service to some of them who may have been unjustly locked up.”
Nurudeen further disclosed that during the assessment of inmates at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre psychological unit, an interview was conducted with one hundred and thirty-seven inmates, all of whom lack legal representation as a result of the 2020 End Sars protest where case files got burnt.
“During a rigorous interview with 137 inmates with different ranges of offences, from stealing, to defilement, to obtaining by false pretence, to murder, armed robbery, and all sort of offences. What struck one of our lawyers is the case of a 17-year-old minor who was alleged to have stolen goods worth N45,000 and has been incarcerated for more than 4 years without trial.
“Different peculiar facts relating to their offences were taken into cognisance. Therefore, we shall be matching these facts with lawyers to provide the necessary pro-bono legal representation for inmates and get justice for those who have been unjustly incarcerated.”
The highlight of the visitation marks the get-together refreshment session held at JJT Park in Alausa, Ikeja, where the team of Lawyers and Volunteers gather to analyse the cases, enjoy merriment, and note cases of the inmates who would be given legal representation pro-bono.