The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with the non-governmental organisation Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), on Monday donated essential hygiene items and paid fines for the release of selected low-risk inmates.
The outreach to Suleja Correctional Centre aims to commemorate the 2025 Nelson Mandela Day with a symbolic donation and the payment of fines for four inmates, leading to their release.
The four inmates — Micheal Udoh, Abdul Hassan, Mohammed Sani, and Yunusa Yusuf — who were convicted of various offences including breach of trust, criminal trespass, public nuisance, and petty theft, were granted freedom after their fines were paid by the NHRC and HBBA.
In addition, they also donated items such as rice, sanitary products, among others, for the inmates remaining inside.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), emphasised that custodial centres must not be seen solely as places of punishment, but as institutions of rehabilitation and reintegration.
“This is not an act of charity,” Ojukwu said, “but a message that custodial centres are also for rehabilitation. We urge those benefiting today to embrace this opportunity and commit to becoming productive members of society.”
He recalled that in December 2015, the United Nations General Assembly extended the significance of Mandela Day to include the promotion of humane conditions of imprisonment, the adoption of the Nelson Mandela Rules for the treatment of prisoners, and the recognition of prison staff as vital social service providers.
According to Ojukwu, though the official date for the global commemoration was July 18, the NHRC marked the day later due to institutional commitments. Ojukwu stated that the commission would not let the symbolic importance of the day pass without reaffirming its commitment to custodial reform and human dignity for inmates.
In addition to providing hygiene kits and paying fines, the event included a sensitisation session for correctional officers, focusing on international best practices under the Mandela Rules and Bangkok Rules—the latter specifically tailored to the rights of women in detention.
According to Ojukwu, the initiative, themed “Upholding Mandela’s Legacy in Prisons” to promote Nelson Mandela’s legacy in our correctional facilities, aligns with this year’s global Mandela Day theme, “Uniting to Combat Poverty and Inequity.”
“It served as a reminder of the continuing relevance of Mandela’s values, particularly justice, dignity, and compassion within custodial environments,” he said.
Ojukwu expressed appreciation to Hope Behind Bars Africa for its consistent collaboration and to the Suleja correctional facility for their cooperation and warm reception.
“Your collaboration and commitment exemplify the spirit of Mandela Day,” he noted.
In his remarks, the chief legal officer of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Samuel Olukade, urged correctional officers to minimally adhere to the Bangkok rules in their treatment of female inmates.
Olukade, who presented the Bangkok rules to correctional officers and inmates, emphasised non-custodial alternatives for women, especially those with children, in line with international best practices. Programme officer Ayodele Okedele called on correctional officers to adopt a human rights-based approach when handling inmates.
The Bangkok Rules, formally known as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, comprise a set of 70 guidelines adopted by the UN in 2010 to address the specific needs of women within the criminal justice system.
