05/06/2026
Through April and May 2026, Citizens' Gavel joined Magistrates, civil society organisations, and justice sector stakeholders in oversight visits to 26 police stations across Nasarawa State and the FCT, Abuja.
As the first point of contact between citizens and the justice system, the oversight visit provided an opportunity to conduct case reviews and interview 100 detainees to understand the circumstances of their detention.
As the reports show, these visits led to detainees being released, suspects being charged to court, and magistrates issuing directives for swift investigation, transfer, bail, and discharge where the law demanded it.
This engagement also provided an opportunity to witness and document firsthand the human conditions behind the statistics — conditions that, in several stations across Nasarawa State and the FCT, fell critically short of the minimum standards any person in state custody is entitled to, convicted or not.
We are grateful to every magistrate, civil society organisation, and stakeholder who, through this important work, continues to strengthen accountability, safeguard rights, and ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied.
Slides: Images and notable observations assessments from the visits.
