Introduction
The right to freedom is fundamental, yet for many indigent Nigerians, this right is often lost due to circumstances beyond their control. The Daily Trust Foundation (DTF in partnership with the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), has provided relief to inmates who were incarcerated for minor, non-violent offenses. They were incarcerated at corrections centres in Kaduna and Katsina States because they lacked the financial means to pay fines or compensation fees.
This project was born out of the necessity to ensure that poverty does not equate to indefinite imprisonment. By settling fines and legal costs, DTF with WRAPA has not only restored freedom but also renewed hope for a better future.
Objectives of the Project
The core objectives of the initiative were:
a. To facilitate the release of indigent inmates held due to inability to pay fines and compensations.
b. To provide second chances to individuals whose lives were put on hold by circumstances beyond their control.
c. To raise awareness on the plight of minor offenders who remain incarcerated due to financial hardship.
d. To strengthen access to justice, ensuring that detention is not solely based on one’s economic status.
e. To advocate for systemic reforms to prevent future occurrences of unjust detentions.
Background
The Plight of Indigent Inmates in Nigeria Nigeria’s justice system, like many others, faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to legal representation and fair treatment. Thousands of inmates remain behind bars, not because of their crimes, but due to their inability to pay court-imposed fines or legal fees. According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), a large percentage of inmates are pre-trial detainees or individuals convicted of minor offenses but unable to afford their fines, and this has led to overcrowding in all correctional centres in the country.
This project recognizes that justice should never be a privilege of the wealthy. By securing the release of these inmates, WRAPA and DTF have provided a second chance to those whose lives were at a standstill due to financial constraints.
Implementation & Execution
The project spanned multiple locations, targeting correctional centres where indigent inmates had been detained for minor offenses. WRAPA worked closely with legal partners, including Hamu Legal and Bahama Chambers, to identify cases and secure the release of beneficiaries.
Identification of Beneficiaries
Legal teams collaborated with correctional facility officials to identify inmates who were incarcerated for petty offenses but remained detained due to unpaid fines. Many of these cases involved first-time offenders with no prior criminal records. Special attention was given to individuals with particularly vulnerable backgrounds, such as sole providers, students, and individuals with significant family obligations.
This project recognizes that justice should never be a privilege of the wealthy. By securing the release of these inmates, WRAPA and DTF have provided a second chance to those whose lives were at a standstill due to financial constraints
Legal & Financial Intervention
Once identified, DTF covered the necessary fines and compensation fees, ensuring the legal processes for release were followed diligently.
Impact & Success Stories
was convicted for selling condemned school books meant to be burned. For
a mere N2,500, he was sentenced to fines and compensation amounting to N160,000, a sum he could not afford. His wife, struggling to keep their children afloat, had to sell their remaining possessions and relocate. Thanks to DTF and WRAPA, he has now regained his freedom and a chance to rebuild his life.
Katsina Correctional Centre – A Young Student’s Redemption
In Katsina, only four inmates were released, but each story carried a deep emotional weight. One of them, Aminu Abdullahi, had lost his parents and siblings in a brutal bandit attack in Batsari Local Government Area. He was later convicted of stealing N60,000, a crime he insisted he did not commit. Unable to afford his N10,000 fine and N60,000 compensation, he remained in prison with no one to turn to. Through DTF and WRAPA’s intervention, he has been given a new start.
Another released inmate was Sadiq Sada, a university student who, due to peer influence, found himself accused of theft alongside his friends who absconded. His mother, the sole provider for him and his three siblings, had been struggling to secure his release, but with DTF and WRAPA stepping in, he has now been reunited with his family. Haj. Umma Saidu, WRAPA North-West Zonal Coordinator, has taken it upon herself to mentor him and ensure he stays on the right path.
Challenges & Lessons Learned
Despite the successes recorded, the project faced challenges, including:
a. Delays in administrative processing within the correctional system.
b. Limited resources to address more cases.
c. Lack of post-release rehabilitation programs for inmates reintegrating into society.
Key takeaways from the project include the urgent need for broader policy reforms that prevent the unnecessary incarceration of indigent citizens for minor offenses. There is also a need for continued legal aid support and community-driven initiatives to prevent recidivism.
Why More Support is Needed
This project has proven that small interventions can change lives. However, many more indigent inmates remain behind bars simply because they cannot afford their fines. With additional funding and support, DTF and WRAPA can scale up efforts, reaching more correctional centres and securing the release of more deserving individuals.
We invite partners, donors, and well-meaning individuals to join this cause. Justice should not be a privilege of the wealthy; it should be accessible to all.
Conclusion
Through this project, 69 lives have been changed, 23 in Niger and 25 in Nasarawa, 17 in Kaduna, and 4 in Katsina. These individuals now have a renewed opportunity to contribute to society, free from the chains of an unjust system that criminalizes poverty.
