As the world marks International Prisoners Justice (IPJ) Day, the Foundation for Public Interest Law and Development (The Pro Bono Centre), has called on federal and state governments to urgently address the deplorable conditions of correctional centres across Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the Foundation and human rights lawyer, Yusuf Nurudeen, who made the call in a statement issued on Saturday to commemorate the 2024 IPJ Day, also appealed for improvement in the treatment of prisoners.
Marked every August 10, the International Prisoners Justice Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plights of prisoners and the impacts of incarceration on their families.
Nurudeen lamented that 68 per cent of the total population of inmates in the 253 correctional centres across the country were awaiting trial, with many being alleged to be unlawfully incarcerated, dehumanised, and stigmatised.
“Our Foundation empathise with inmates in the 253 correctional centres in Nigeria, particularly, the 56,072 awaiting trial, representing 68% of the total population who are unlawfully incarcerated, dehumanised, stigmatised, and who have paid the ultimate price due to the deprivation of their fundamental rights. Many of these injustices stem from a lack of access to legal representation at the time of their trials.
“We feel it is crucial to remind the Minister of Interior about the dilapidated conditions of our correctional centres. Many of the facilities in these centres are obsolete and excessively overstretched. The 25th of April Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre incident is still very fresh in our memory. We must do everything possible to avert a repeat of such a despicable incident,” he said.
The Foundation also highlighted the need for urgent reforms in the administration of criminal justice in the country, ensuring humane treatment, and providing access to education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programmes for prisoners.
“As an organization dedicated to defending the rights of indigent persons and prisoners across Nigeria, we call on the government and stakeholders in the sector to address the systemic issues with the administration of criminal justice, ensure humane treatment, and provide access to education, healthcare, and rehabilitation programmes for prisoners”, the statement reads in part.
The organization equally urged state governments to make laws giving effect to the Fifth Alteration No.15, which allows states to own and manage correctional services, and to implement provisions for sufficient and sustainable funding for the Judiciary.
“We urge state governments to implement the latter, the provisions of Section 121 (4B) and (4C) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which provide sufficient and sustainable funding to enable the Judiciary to perform its functions to the highest standards.”
Furthermore, the Foundation condemned what it described as reckless actions of security operatives during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, resulting in unnecessary loss of lives, while urging the federal government to ensure that culpable officers are held accountable.
“We call on the Nigeria Police to conduct a quick methodical investigation and if need be, prosecute the hundreds arrested in connection with the protests or release them conditionally or immediately. This must not take the form of #EndSARs protesters. Their continued incarceration contributes to the overcrowding of our correctional centres, which has led to the untimely death of many inmates”, the organisation stated.
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