More than 50,000 suspects are in Nigerian prisons, 36,000 of whom are awaiting trial, Mr. Zakari Ibrahim, the Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, has said.



According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Ibrahim said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a workshop on the 'Human Rights Integration Project', organised by Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action for prison officials.



He said, "We have our own challenges; first we have an awaiting trial population that has refused to go down. As I speak to you today, over 50,000 people are in custody.



"Thirty six thousand of this number is awaiting trial, this makes us work more to contain than to reform."



He called for collaborative efforts by the governments at all levels to achieve meaningful growth in prisons operations.



Ibrahim identified the increase in number of inmates awaiting trials and a lack of funding as some of the challenges facing the service.



The NPS boss said, "But it is my hope that after policy makers have come to terms with the security implications of funding the prisons poorly, this may be the last time we may have to lament over this.



"This process of driving the reform is ongoing, as we are very determined to change the face of our prisons. This calls, therefore, for the collective efforts of all to bring this dream to fruition.



"This training is one of them and it is my hope that more of this will take place so as to prepare our officers for the challenges of a new prisons service in Nigeria."



He advised the participants to use the knowledge acquired to educate their colleagues on human rights.



He said this could be achieved through their "Thursday lectures" for prison officials.



Chairperson, African Commission on Human and People's Rights, Mrs. Catherine Atoki, said regular training and retraining of prison officials were necessary for achieving the objective of prison reform.



She decried the poor conditions of prison inmates, advising prison officials to always enrich their knowledge on prison operations.



Atoki said, "Prisoners should be treated with dignity because just as the prison official has a right to be protected, the prisoners also have the right to be protected, and the best way to go about it is training.



Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, said the workshop was organised to sensitise prison officials to International Human Rights principles and good governance.



She added that plans were under way by the organisation to sensitise prisoners in the country to their rights and duties to reduce cases of torture.



NAN reports that the workshop attracted stakeholders from the NPS and civil society organisations.
Imaging spending 4 years in awaiting trial for a crime that attract only 3 months penalty, what a big injustice.www.punchng.com/news/36000-of-50000-inmates-awaiting-tr... www.punchng.com/news/36000-of-50000-inmates-awaiting-tr... 

Post Reply

Posted: at 5-09-2012 04:46 PM (11 years ago) | Upcoming

Mr Ibrahim, since u know they are wrongly held, wat are u doing to release them ASAP?

Posted: at 5-09-2012 05:06 PM (11 years ago) | Hero

And most of them are innocent.

Posted: at 6-09-2012 06:50 AM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Ok. Hope the innocent ones receive their freedom

Posted: at 6-09-2012 07:35 AM (11 years ago) | Hero

Okay

Posted: at 19-06-2016 11:27 PM (7 years ago) | Hero

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