Abia State chapter of the Legal Aid Council of Nigerian has blamed the cases of prolonged detention of young people in Correctional facilities in Abia State on inadequate legal representation and financial constraints.
The Council also attributed the continued congestion of Correctional facilities in the State to delay and denial of access to justice.
The Abia State Coordinator of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Obinna Odenigbo stated this in Umuahia during his meeting with Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba.
The Legal Aid Council was in the Ministry to discuss collaboration on youth development and their access to justice.
Odenigbo said the meeting focused on decongesting correctional centres in Abia and ensuring that young people awaiting trial are not denied opportunities due to delays in the justice administration system.
He lamented that many youths were presently in custody for offences that did not warrant prolonged detention, emphasizing that inadequate legal representation and financial constraints were some of the major factors.
He recounted meeting a young inmate with exceptional craftsmanship, noting that such talent should be contributing to Abia’s productive economy rather than remaining behind bars awaiting trial.
Responding to the concern raised by the Council, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to partner on initiatives that give young people a second chance.
The Commissioner said that Governor Alex Otti’s administration introduced measures to tackle unemployment and discourage deviant activities among the youths.