In a shocking turn of an event, the public and private development centre, a non-government organisation, (NGO) has revealed that over 53,000 inmates are awaiting trials across the 253 Correctional Centres in the country.

The non-governmental organisation, who hosted over 20 civil society organisations in Yola, the state capital to discuss the way forward on the huge number of inmates awaiting trials in correctional centres, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Head of Communication and Knowledge Management, Munachi Okoro.

Okoro stated, “The growing number of pretrial detainees, many held for years without trial under dire conditions, poses significant human rights concerns, overwhelming the justice system and correctional facilities.”

The statement added that the meeting will focus on communication strategies, resource management, and collaboration problem solving techniques for pro bono legal services.

Also, speaking at the meeting with the CSOs in Yola, the programme assistant of the centre, Hauwa Yusuf, said that the reforming of the pretrial detention in Nigeria phase ll project is supported by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

The Adamawa State Programme Officer Barr. Fatima Bello, while speaking on the overall objectives of the PPDC project, said that the project aimed at deploying over 370 law clinicians and 50 pro bono lawyers to provide legal representation to 1,750 detainees annually.

According to Bello, this will reduce the pretrial population, and it will strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Furthermore, she added, “The project aims to support collective efforts towards achieving a reduction in awaiting trial inmates for which more than 70 per cent of those in correctional facilities across Nigeria are awaiting trial.”

However, Bello pointed out that the court administration and case management project is aimed at improving capacity to reduce the challenges in the justice sector.

“The CACM project focuses on addressing the gaps in structures for case management in the courts which are weak or absent in some cases, and for which there are no document backup systems in place,” he stated.

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Fawaz Adebisi

The Chief Imam of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Abdulhakeem Abdulmajeed, popularly known as Hon Iyepe has said that lack of submission to Allah’s will is the reason for Nigeria’s suffering.

Hon Iyepe made this statement on Wednesday at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY during the Faith Assurance Gathering, FAG organized by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN.

Speaking on the theme, Discovering My Faith, and title; My Story of Connection, Contribution and Change, he denoted that lack of submission and being obedient to the Almighty is equivalent to being ungrateful.

In his words, being ungrateful is the greatest sin to Allah (S.W.T), clarifying that ungratefulness births Shirk, associating a partner with HIM.

He said, “Nigeria is suffering today because of a sin, a sin that made Allah destroy a nation with hunger and insecurity.

“That sin is being ungrateful and without being submissive to Him, without obeying Him, we can’t appreciate Him, and that’s why you see many prostrating to stick, irons, images/portraits and many more.

“It’s only when you know there’s only one God you won’t have to bow to another god, being ungrateful leads Shirk.”

In the same vein, Hon Iyepe stressed the need to be humble.

Dwelling on the theme, he explained how human beings came from dust and would return to dust.

Urging students to thread softly, he stated, “you came from sand, build from sand, eat from sand, wear from sand, walk on sand and will return to sand.

“Everything taken from sand shall return to sand, this is Allah’s promise to sand during the first creation of Adam. So why not? We should be humble.”

He also added that Allah has cursed whoever is arrogant in the Quran.

He therefore urged Muslim students to be grateful to their Lord by being submissive totally to Him.

He also urged them to learn Arabic for easy understanding of the Quran, preach Islam and obey the words of Allah for better living in this world.

Fawaz Adebisi

Earlier today, popular Islamic singer, Rukayat Gawat-Oyefeso passed away. Her death, having been announced by her relative and senior special assistant on new media to Lagos governor, Jubril Gawat, has sparked sad reactions online.

In a post by Jubril, he mourned the passing of Rukayat and since his announcement, the deceased’s fans have continuously prayed for her.

According to a report by TheCable, Rukayat died after a brief illness on Tuesday.

TheCable stated that this was confirmed by a source close to the family.

The deceased’s demise have also been reported by many notable outlets and personalities, giving authenticity to the report.

Rukayat is succeeded by two children, Ibrahim Aremu Oyefeso and Mazidah Adunni Oyefeso and a husband, Shakiru Oyefeso.

She is the first daughter of Rasaq Gawat, the popular TV presenter and cleric who went missing twelve years ago and has not been found until this moment.

Media reports revealed that the late artiste on September 14, 2024, did a 12-year remembrance for her missing dad, the popular Islamic presenter and broadcaster, Aremu Gawat, whose whereabouts remained unknown since July 2012.

Delving into the Islamic music scene in 2015. She rose to fame after releasing songs about the mysterious disappearance of her father ‘Aye Le’.

Gawat continued to enjoy stardom in the Islamic music industry with several hit projects and awards.

In 2016, the singer won City People Magazine’s ‘Best Female Islamic Musician’ award. She also clinched the ‘Best Islamic Artiste’ category at the 2017 City People Music Award.

She has been laid to rest in Ogun state after her Janazah was observed in Ojota, Lagos State where she died.

During the prayer, monitored via TikTok live, it was said that the final prayer and burial would take place in Ijebu Aiyepe, Ogun State on Tuesday at noon.