NBA PLEDGES PRO BONO LEGAL AID AND REINTEGRATION SUPPORT FOR INMATES
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Abuja, October 17, 2025 — The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to provide pro bono legal services to inmates who lack access to counsel, while also supporting their post-release reintegration into society.
During a visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, NBA President Afam Osigwe revealed that the association would identify inmates in need of legal representation and make grants available to former inmates to help them reenter society.
“One of the problems people face is that when they leave correctional centres, they are going into a society not prepared or having any money. As soon as we get that approval, we will put that fund in place,” Osigwe said.
He further stated that the NBA will propose during its upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting the establishment of a special fund to provide grants for ex-convicts to start businesses or otherwise reestablish themselves.
Beyond legal aid and grants, the NBA also plans to donate resources to support skill acquisition and educational programs in correctional centers. Osigwe expressed admiration for the custodial centre’s environment and operations, noting that the humane conditions changed his perception of how correctional facilities function.
He emphasized that helping ex-convicts integrate into society is a collective responsibility. He warned against stigmatizing individuals who have served time, insisting that they “should be able to move on without being held back by their past.”
Osigwe also said the NBA would make a direct donation to the NCoS to assist ongoing educational and vocational training efforts within prisons.
The NBA’s renewed commitment reflects growing recognition of the role legal access and economic opportunity play in reducing recidivism and giving former inmates a pathway to a productive life after incarceration.
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