Gombe NBA Decries Lack Of Remand Homes For Juvenile Offenders, Calls For Urgent Action
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gombe State Branch, has expressed deep concern over the absence of functional remand homes for juvenile offenders, warning that the lack of such facilities is worsening crime rates among minors.
NBA Chairman, Barrister Benjamin Sati, raised the issue during the 2024/2025 legal year ceremony at the Gombe High Court Complex, stressing that the failure to separate minors from adult inmates in correctional facilities is leading to their further criminalization.
Sati noted that, in the absence of juvenile correctional facilities, young offenders are housed with adult criminals in custodial centers, making rehabilitation difficult. He cited a recent case where a juvenile offender, granted bail due to the lack of a remand home, committed another murder just two weeks later.
“There was an instance where, because there was nowhere to keep a young suspect who had been granted bail, he ended up taking another life within two weeks. If he had been placed in a remand home under supervision, that tragedy might have been prevented,” Sati stated.
Responding to the concerns, Gombe State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Zubair Umar, acknowledged that the lack of remand homes has been a longstanding issue but assured that the government has approved land for the immediate construction of a modern remand home to address the rising cases of youth crime.
“Since the creation of Gombe State, this issue has persisted. However, last year, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya approved land allocation, and construction will begin soon to ensure that juvenile offenders receive the proper rehabilitation they need,” Umar stated.
In her remarks, Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Halima Mohammed, urged Governor Yahaya to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary, ensuring adequate funding for the expanding needs of the state’s judicial system.
She also appealed for the renovation of lower courts, which serve as the first point of access to justice for residents at the grassroots level.
“The judiciary needs financial independence to effectively administer justice. Additionally, many lower courts require urgent renovations, as they are the primary access points for the public seeking legal redress,” Justice Mohammed emphasized.
She commended the governor’s support for the judiciary, particularly the recently awarded contract for the construction of a modern high court complex, which she said would boost judges’ morale and enhance judicial efficiency.
Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, in his goodwill message, praised the judiciary for its commitment to swift case resolutions, which has been instrumental in maintaining law and order in the state.
Reaffirming his commitment to judicial reform, he announced plans to appoint more judges and judicial staff, improve welfare through promotions and capacity-building programs, and introduce digital tools to modernize court processes for enhanced efficiency.
“A responsive and effective judiciary is essential for upholding the rule of law and ensuring fairness. We are committed to strengthening the judiciary with more appointments, improved welfare, and digital transformation,” Yahaya stated.
With the government’s commitment to building a remand home and the planned judicial reforms, stakeholders hope that these steps will lead to a more effective justice system in Gombe State.
