The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has provided free legal representation to more than 20,900 indigent detainees, helping to accelerate delayed criminal trials and ensure access to justice for all Nigerians.

This milestone was achieved through the Reform Pre-Trial Detention Project, an ongoing initiative designed to remove financial barriers and make the justice system more accessible. Since its inception in 2023, the three-year project has operated across Plateau, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Kaduna states, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a Justice Walk in Abuja ahead of the Access to Justice Parley, Aniekwe Ogechukwu, Head of Programmes at PPDC, decried the erosion of public trust in the judiciary.

“Many Nigerians now believe justice can be bought. Our interventions aim to change this perception by ensuring that all, regardless of status, have their rights protected,” he said.

The project has already resulted in detainees being granted bail, discharged, or convicted after long-delayed cases were finally heard.

Ogechukwu highlighted the impact of modern case management and virtual court hearing technology, which have drastically reduced logistical delays caused by transporting detainees from custodial centers to courts.

“We can now pull up case files in four minutes, and judges can preside virtually from anywhere in the world,” he said.

Supported by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the project also educates citizens about their rights during arrests and trials.

“Our goal is to make justice accessible to the poor and marginalized, not just the elite. Many interventions in Nigeria tend to benefit the powerful. We aim to take justice to the grassroots and empower citizens to speak out for themselves,” Ogechukwu added.

The PPDC continues to push for a fairer justice system, ensuring that financial limitations do not prevent Nigerians from exercising their constitutional rights.