… Celebrates new legal year Mass
In line with its prison decongestion and inmates rehabilitation advocacy, the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) has secured the release of 21 persons and facilitated their return to their families in its just concluded legal year. The disclosure was made by Florence Atuluku Esq., President, NACL, Archdiocese of Lagos, during the 2nd annual conference and 2024 new legal year Mass/AGM of NACL, Lagos, held recently at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. According to the President, by the time she prepared her speech, the released inmates were 17 in number, but increased to 21 by the date of the NACL, Lagos AGM, September 16, 2024.
Atuluku disclosed that NACL visited Ikoyi and Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centres for interview and collation of data for securing the release of inmates that had been in custody for a long time without trial. According to her, the project encountered setbacks for most of the year, ranging from non-production of inmates in court to stringent and cumbersome technical procedures which were resolved, following engagement with officers of some of the Correctional Centres to ensure the production of inmates in Courts on all dates that their matters were scheduled. “We have released 21 inmates in the year under review.

It is worth noting that in line with the Association’s rehabilitation roadmap, we facilitated the return of some released inmates to their families. Of particular note is the release of an inmate who has returned to his parents after two years in detention. He is currently an usher in his home Parish, and we are receiving periodic progress reports from his father and Parish Priest”, she disclosed. She however regretted that some inmates’ families refused to welcome them back, while others were not willing to return to their families having made new friends on the streets and preferred to be with them.
She appealed to the lawyers to be committed to the cause of justice, equity, and fairness, as they show up for the downtrodden, assuring that the EXCO, and particularly the Probono Committee remain committed to Moving The Needle (MTN) in the pursuit of justice for the vulnerable. While delivering the homily at Mass, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, commended the lawyers for seeking the accompaniment of God in the practice of their profession throughout the new legal year.
He urged them to work with integrity, honesty and fairness, praying for help and guidance of God on them, as he said God does not fail to be with those who work with His fear in their hearts and His words as their guide. He assured them that those who operate by the values of the word of God will enjoy the promises of God in Jeremiah 29:11; of prosperity, hope and a fulfilled future. “Your faith and fidelity to the values of your faith and the word of God will be rewarded, and the plan of God for your material and spiritual prosperity will be assured as you get into the new year”, he prayed.