Yola: The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), an NGO, has announced the provision of over 5,000 pro bono legal services to detainees in Adamawa since 2024. This information was shared by Mrs. Lucy Abagi, the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, during a police duty solicitor scheme awareness engagement and scorecard presentation in Yola.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the services were part of phase II of the Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN) Project. Abagi, represented by Motunrayo Anibaba, detailed that the services included 3,000 legal representations in courts and securing 2,000 bail applications for indigent detainees. This legal intervention has reduced prolonged pretrial detention and improved cooperation between police and lawyers.
The centre, supported by the U.S. State Department, deploys volunteer lawyers to police stations to offer free legal assistance to indigent suspects. By providing early legal intervention, the scheme aims to safeguard human rights, reduce unnecessary detention, and alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities. This milestone underscores PPDC’s commitment to reforming pretrial detention practices in Nigeria, ensuring justice is accessible to all.
In his remarks, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Morris Dankombo, lauded the centre for its support and contributions to justice sector reform. Represented by CSP Obeth Masoyi, Dankombo urged police officers to disseminate the knowledge gained during the engagement to their divisions for effective service delivery.
Mr. Manasseh Akpa, Kaduna PPDC Programme Coordinator, advised the police to meticulously investigate cases to avoid misinterpretations that could escalate civil matters to criminal cases. Buba Muhammad, a stakeholder, expressed appreciation for the project and encouraged PPDC to enhance its efforts in providing equipment and a conducive working environment for the police and volunteers.