By Lukman Olabiyi
A non governmental organisation (NGO), Headfort Foundation for Justice (HFJ), has revealed that since its inauguration in 2019, no fewer than 628 inmates across the country had regained their freedom through the organisation.
HFJ is a non-profit organisation focused on providing free and easy access to justice to indigent and wrongly incarcerated inmates, victims of police brutality, and minor offenders.
Speaking during five years anniversary of foundation held in Lagos, its Executive Director, Mrs. Oluyemi Orija said the foundation has not only provided intimates with free legal representation in court, but also ensured the beneficiaries are provided back-to-school programs, skill-acquisition programs, psychosocial support, and successful reentry into society.
She said Headfort Foundation’s work cuts across all 36 states of Nigeria, with its head office in Lagos State. The organisation is powered by a team of excellent, passionate, and learned female lawyers who are vast in criminal justice law and committed volunteers from all walks of life, partners, donors, and board members who are determined to see access to justice easy and free for all.
She said the vision of foundation is being achieved through various projects, which include, but not limited to the Lawyers Without Border Project, the Ex-Inmate Support Initiative, Bail the Indigent Project and My Rights My Freedom Project, among others. Mrs Orija said her foundation’s various interventions have helped to reduce the number of people who were wrongly incarcerated and improve the lives of those who were affected by the criminal justice system. The HFJ boss called for synergy among all stakeholders in Criminal Justice Administration, in order to decongest the prison.
The five anniversary of the foundation was also used to dissect various challenges militating against initiatives to decongest the prison.
One of the guest speakers at the event, Mr. Todimu Ige, charged Nigerians to always fight for their rights by seeking knowledge. He said many Nigerians are suffering from injustice as a result of their ignorance.