Zamfara State has taken a significant step toward addressing the justice-system challenges confronting low-income citizens, as the First Lady, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, announced the settlement of ₦67,204,700 in debts owed by 436 inmates imprisoned for civil debt-related convictions.
The initiative—which spans 54 Sharia Courts across the state—forms part of a wider intervention coordinated by the Zakkat and Endowment Board in partnership with the Sharia Court of Appeal, both of which jointly verified the authenticity of all cases before payment.
Speaking at a public event in Gusau, where 200 orphans were also married, the First Lady said the goal of the debt settlement programme is to correct systemic injustices that disproportionately affect the poor, especially those imprisoned for minor financial obligations.
She urged the newly freed individuals to rebuild their lives constructively and avoid acts that could return them to custody, stressing that the intervention should be seen as a second chance rather than an entitlement.
Chairman of the Zakkat and Endowment Board, Mallam Umar Kanoma, appealed to politicians, philanthropists, and community leaders to support sustained legal and social assistance for vulnerable groups. He emphasized that the Board operates on a non-political mandate focused on alleviating hardship and improving equity in the administration of justice.
In a related development, the First Lady also launched the 2025 “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Development. She highlighted the rising impact of digital and physical forms of violence and called for stronger enforcement of protective laws, enhanced access to justice, and the creation of safer online and offline spaces.
According to her, this year’s theme—“Digital Violence Is Real Violence”—serves as a reminder that modern forms of abuse require equally modern legal responses. She urged security agencies, civil society, and digital platforms to collaborate more deeply in addressing pervasive violence against women and girls.
LegalObserver will continue monitoring Zamfara State’s justice-sector reforms, particularly the financial-justice interventions that highlight longstanding gaps in Nigeria’s handling of debt-related imprisonment.
