Liberalist Centre has received a grant award from Atlas Network to implement the Project on the Administration of Criminal Justice and Advocacy (PACJA), a multi-year initiative aimed at tackling Nigeria’s deepening correctional system crisis and strengthening the rule of law through direct legal intervention and policy reform.
Nigeria’s correctional centres hold over 79,000 inmates, far beyond the official capacity of about 58,000. Nearly 67 percent of this population consists of pretrial detainees, many of whom have been held unlawfully beyond the 42-day maximum remand period provided under the ACJA.
With support from Atlas Network, the project will establish Bail Advocacy Clinics in selected university law faculties across Nigeria. Through these clinics, trained student clinicians will work with pro-bono lawyers to provide legal assistance and secure the release of pretrial detainees who are unlawfully detained or eligible for bail but lack access to legal representation.
In addition to legal interventions, PACJA will deliver a nationwide media and public awareness campaign to educate citizens on detainee rights under the ACJA and the broader consequences of prolonged pretrial detention.
A key innovation of PACJA is the launch of the Administration of Criminal Justice Index (ACJI), Nigeria’s first compliance scorecard to measure states and law enforcement institutions’ adherence to ACJA.
Commenting on the grant award, Eric Mobu, Programmes & Development Director at Liberalist Centre, noted that the project is designed to deliver both immediate and lasting impact.
“This partnership with Atlas Network reinforces our commitment to advancing rule of law in Nigeria. It strengthens our ability to combine grassroots legal action with national accountability tools that promote transparency, human dignity, and respect for due process in the Nigerian criminal justice system,” said Mobu.
Press contact:
Eric Mobu | Programme & Development Director | eric@liberalistcentre.org
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