115 Inmates Set To Benefit From SPIDEL’s Free Legal Services

According to reports, the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has announced its commitment to providing free legal assistance to 115 inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Uyo who currently lack access to legal services.

The announcement was made by NBA-SPIDEL Chairperson, Associate Professor Uju Agomoh, during a ceremony titled “Data Collection of Inmates Without Legal Representation and Formal Presentation of Solar-Powered Installation for Borehole and Clinic Lighting Facility” at the Uyo Correctional Centre.

Agomoh, who recently assumed the role of chairperson, emphasized the importance of ensuring a justice system that is fair, humane, and effective. She revealed that the facility provided a list of 115 inmates without legal support, which NBA-SPIDEL has now taken up, affirming their commitment to securing legal assistance for each individual.

Highlighting a wider concern, Agomoh noted that out of the 1,725 inmates at the centre, 1,522—including 1,432 men and 90 women—are yet to be convicted, underscoring the urgent need for structured interventions by the association.

The chairperson also spoke on the solar-powered borehole installed at the facility, explaining that the initiative addresses the long-standing water crisis at the centre, following a request made during a visit in September 2025. She urged inmates to care for the facility and called on contractors to maintain it at no cost. Agomoh further recommended that the Controller-General of Corrections map all custodial centres nationwide, assessing water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions to enable targeted interventions.

Akwa Ibom State Controller of Corrections, Theophilus Okoka, expressed gratitude to NBA-SPIDEL for its humanitarian intervention, praising the sustainable, solar-powered solution to the centre’s water challenges. He assured that the project would be properly maintained and effectively utilized.

Dr. Ezekiel Inyang, officer-in-charge of the Uyo Custodial Centre, also thanked NBA-SPIDEL for addressing the facility’s water scarcity and formally handed over the list of 115 inmates in need of legal representation for action.