The prevalence of overcrowding in Nigerian prisons as a result of the practice of pretrial detention has been criticized by the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI).

Pretrial detainees make up almost 75% of the prison population in the nation, according to Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, president of the legal advocacy group.

Prof. Ojukwu remarked that the number has remained constant while being represented at an event on Thursday in Abuja on "Reforming Pretrial Detention in Nigeria (RPDN)" by the Executive Director of NULAI, Mukhtar Nasiru.

He said, “What I mean by 75% is that for every 100 people in the correctional centre, 75% of them are pretrial detainees.”

”This means that their cases have not been decided nor have they been convicted. Only 25 per cent fall under those convicted.

NULAI revealed that the group had in five years, resolved about 1,400 pretrial detention cases in the Federal Capital Territory and Keffi, Nasarawa State.

”Over 500 law students have been able to support pro bono lawyers to intervene in pre-trial detention cases and over 1,400 cases have been resolved” he explained.