Abia First Lady Promises Legal Aid To Prison Inmates

The wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has promised to facilitate efforts to ensuring that female inmates of the Afara Correctional Center, who are on awaiting trial list, have access to legal aid.

Mrs. Otti who stated this during her visit to the correctional center in Umuahia, the state capital said, such visit was part of activities marking the second anniversary of the Otti-led administration in Abia State.

This is even as she disclosed efforts by the current administration to partner with the Ministry of Justice, legal aid organizations, and civil society groups to expand access to justice for inmates who lack proper legal representation.

Addressing the inmates, Her Excellency encouraged them to remain hopeful, engage in self-reflection, and take practical steps toward a better future.

She emphasized that the correctional facility should not be seen as an end, but as an opportunity for renewal and transformation.

She further disclosed that she would be stepping up her support for skill acquisition and empowerment programs within the correctional facility, having already extended such interventions in the past.

According to her, strengthening rehabilitation through skills development is key to ensuring that inmates can successfully reintegrate into society upon release.

The initiative is part of a broader justice reform agenda that places rehabilitation, not rejection, at the heart of the correctional system.

The visit, our correspondent gathered, underscored the administration’s belief in the dignity and potential of every Abia citizen, regardless of circumstance.

It also reflected the broader vision of the Governor and his wife to ensuring that even the most marginalized were not left behind in the development and compassion-driven governance taking root across the state.

In her speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, praised the Governor and his wife for placing the welfare of the vulnerable at the forefront of the administration’s priorities.

She encouraged inmates to see their current situation as a temporary phase and to make the most of every opportunity for learning and transformation.

Also in attendance were the Mayor of Umuahia North, Chief Ihuoma Smart, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Poverty Alleviation and Vulnerable Groups, Chief Mrs. Ifeoma Thomas.

Both lauded Mrs. Otti’s sustained commitment to the empowerment of women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups across the state.

Welcoming the delegation, the Controller of the Abia State Correctional Headquarters, CP Mrs. Josephine Ogbeifun, expressed profound gratitude for the timely and impactful outreach.

She lauded Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, for her consistent and compassionate support to the facility, describing her as a dependable ally and a mother figure to both staff and inmates.

CP Ogbeifun emphasized that Mrs. Otti has demonstrated unwavering commitment, making it a personal responsibility to stand by the facility at every critical moment.

She prayed for renewed strength and continued success in Her Excellency’s humanitarian endeavors.

An inmate who spoke on behalf of others thanked Her Excellency for what he described as a motherly gesture that has rekindled hope and dignity among the inmates.

The event featured the donation of essential supplies, including a cow, bags of rice, beans, toiletries, and cash support. It also attracted the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, and several senior government officials.

The visit to Afara Correctional Facility is the latest in a series of impactful outreach programs championed by Her Excellency Mrs. Priscilla Otti.

It reinforces the Otti administration’s core belief that governance must be inclusive, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of all Abians — including those behind bars who deserve a second chance.