Governor Sule’s advocacy bearing fruits as FCT Judge releases 35 inmates from Keffi prison

By Ali Abare

When Governor Abdullahi Sule visited the Keffi Correctional Centre after the recent jailbreak, he saw more than just a damaged facility.

He saw a deeper problem that needed a lasting solution.

The centre was overcrowded, with many inmates awaiting trial for far too long. Instead of just ordering repairs, Governor Sule took a different path, one of compassion and proactive advocacy.

He immediately took the case for decongestion to the very top, to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Today, we are seeing the wonderful fruits of that decisive visit.

The proof of this success came this week with the heartwarming news that the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, has ordered the release of thirty-five inmates from the Keffi custodial centres.

These are thirty-three men and two women who had been awaiting trial. Think of the story of one of them, Mohammed Abdullahi, who had been held for a whole year without ever once stepping into a courtroom.

His freedom, and the freedom of the thirty-four others, is a direct result of Governor Sule’s powerful intervention. The Chief Judge himself said setting these innocent people free was a “huge boost,” and he promised to make such visits routine. This is exactly the change Governor Sule was working towards.

But the Governor’s approach has always been about more than just policy. It is about people. During his visit, he showed his compassion firsthand by donating One Million Naira and a substantial number of mattresses to improve the inmates’ living conditions.

This combination of immediate relief and strategic advocacy shows a leader who truly cares about the plight of the less privileged. Governor Abdullahi Sule is demonstrating what inclusive governance means.

It means not forgetting anyone in society, even those behind bars. By giving them a voice and fighting for their justice, he is advancing a form of good governance that touches every life and restores hope, one freed inmate at a time.

This is a clear sign that Nasarawa State is in caring and capable hands.

Abare is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule