As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark International Criminal Justice Day on 17th July, lawyers and rights advocates renewed calls for faster court cases and fair treatment for people awaiting trial.
The annual event marks the anniversary of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court in 1998.
It reminds countries of the need to uphold justice, protect human rights and end impunity for serious crimes.
In 2026, activities around the world again focused on making justice systems more effective and accessible for everyone.
Speaking with our correspondent, Tunji Braithwaite Foundation (TBF) Communications Director Chino Obasi said Nigeria still faces serious problems in its criminal justice system, especially the large number of people kept in custody while waiting for trial.
"We started off last month by breaking the silence with regards to a lot of the cases of injustices in the country where you have over 70% of inmates awaiting trial, some of them for cases that will take just three months of imprisonment.
"Some of them have spent 10 years for that.
"I mean, that is the height of injustice," Obasi said.
Official figures from the Nigerian Correctional Service show that the situation remains severe.
As of 29th June 2026, Nigeria had 82,195 inmates, including 53,670 awaiting trial, or about 65% of the total prison population.
Obasi said TBF's recent "Break the Silence" campaign has already produced results.
He said the foundation secured bail this week for a sick inmate who had been detained over what it described as a civil matter.
"The foundation had to quickly go to court to make sure that this person gets bail to take care of their medical condition.
"And we got that yesterday," he said.
Although he admitted that many challenges remain, Obasi praised judges, correctional officials and other stakeholders for supporting reform efforts.
"The stakeholders are sort of aligning with us.
"They have seen that our cause is germane, that justice is at the bedrock of every society," he said.
The push for reform is also receiving attention from government. President Bola Tinubu recently urged judges to ensure that justice is "swift" and "fair," warning that delays weaken public confidence in the courts.
Lagos State has also expanded digital systems to track criminal cases and improve case management.
For many campaigners, International Criminal Justice Day is more than a date on the calendar.
It is a reminder that every person deserves a fair hearing, timely justice and respect for their rights under the law.
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