FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR 300 POOR INMATES IN 2026

PROJECT SUMMARY
Since inception, our core mission has been to ensure justice for indigent inmates across correctional centres in Nigeria. In line with this vision, at the beginning of the year, we set it as our annual goal to not only provide free legal representation and legal aid but also to ensure the release of 300 wrongly incarcerated inmates, which brings us closer to achieving a fairer justice system in Nigeria.

With our dedicated lawyers and partners in development, we have successfully secured the release of 99 inmates across various prisons in Nigeria.

PROGRESS REPORT
Thanks to you, we can report evident progress in this project. As of the time of submitting this report in July, we can confidently state that we have 99 beneficiaries of this project. In other words, we have provided free legal aid and representation to 99 inmates who have been reintegrated into society.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHT
Hammid, a young man from Oyo state based in Lagos, left his house in Lagos like any other evening, going to pick a commercial bus he shared with his friend. He and his friend are both commercial drivers who share the same bus on rotation.

While on his way to pick up the bus, he saw a colleague whose bus was faulty and decided to help. While helping, the area boys came and demanded that they pay for parking, and while trying to explain that they were not parked, a fight broke out. Hammid, sensing danger, fled the scene to hide in an uncompleted building, and on entering the building, workers who saw him going in caught him and accused him of theft. They dealt with him before handing him over to the police. He spent 2 months and 3 days in custody before he was arraigned, not for trial, but to be locked away in Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

On May 28, 2025, while one of ur lawyers was in court for another case, his case was brought to our attention. We followed up, insisting his file must be found. The judge was surprised to learn the man has been in custody for seven years over charges that wouldn't even carry that sentence if proven guilty. And every time he was brought to court for a hearing, he was locked in the court jail and never made it to the courtroom.
On June 27, 2025, with no witnesses present, the case was dismissed from court.
Hammid could not believe he would ever be free again, and he made it known to us that at the time of his arrest, his wife was 7 months pregnant, so he had a seven-year-old he had never seen.
Thanks to your continued support, a child gets to meet his father, and though he has missed the early stage of his child's life, he gets to see his child at the end.
His story is not so unique, as there are many behind bars like this. For every Hammid we secure release for, there are 9 more behind bars.

KEY MILESTONES
- 99 inmates released: Legal aid was made available to individuals wrongly detained or unable to afford representation in court.

- Increased Awareness: Our regular visits to correctional facilities and engagement with the legal system have highlighted systemic issues and the need for reform.

THE ROAD AHEAD
In providing legal assistance to those in greatest need, this project keeps making impressive strides. Even though we've made a significant difference, there are still a great number of people who are waiting for assistance and justice.

We have a clear objective, which is to secure 300 prisoners' freedom and justice. We are confident that this is achievable with your ongoing generosity and support. By working together, we can change more stories, restore more freedom, and impact more lives.

Links:

• http://headfortfoundation.org