Egbogu Gift Uzoma from ABSU Law Clinic- Personal Reflection

My name is Egbogu Gift Uzoma, a 400level Law student of Abia State University and also a member of Aba Prisons Department in the Law Clinic.
The Law Clinic, has been a grooming and naturing platform to clinicians as we have been granted the opportunity to "practice law" and various aspect of law even as Lawyers in equity not limiting our horizon to the classroom and theories of Law.

In the month of March my department i.e Aba prisons department conducted an interview session in the Aba prisons. Through this interview session, we had the opportunity to elucidate information from some inmates particularly those charged with simple, bailable offences and are actually on bail.

From our interactions with clients I got to appreciate what we are taught on the science of clients. We met some detainees who would hardly tell you the truth some even go to the extent of giving you wrong  information.  At a point however, I gradually started seeing why most of them behave the way they do.
I would use the detainee I am working on as a reference point here.
Among the interviewed inmates was a 23 year old student of a polytechnic who told us his name was Orie Bassey. On taking up this detainees case, I made a request for the suit number of the same client with the name given. 

The prison ward did a thorough search for the client's sheet but could not find it, this made the prison officials to call the detainee for another interview. When he was called and asked his name he told us a different name to be Okorie Bassey saying that that's his name but after thorough questioning and search by the prison officials it was finally discovered that his name was actually Chidiebube Jacob Okorie.
It was while interacting with the prison official that I discovered that the detainee's behavior was as a result of depression and distress. The official told me that during the early stay of the detainee he was so depressed that it made him loose his senses at some point and started behaving in a strange manner although he subsequently regained his senses.

This actually made me understand the reason why the right of personal liberty and movement is a fundamental right entrenched in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This inmate who actually was a student of the Abia state Polytechnic  lost his mind because of depression due to the confinement in the prison custody, and his inability to move freely or be at liberty.I discovered that he has been there since 2015 and was actually committed to the police by his own father this made me realize the importance of this Fundamental right.
In the last interview with this detainee I could feel remorse and I could also see regrets written all over his face, a promising young man who while in school was at that point within the restricted walls of the prison yards.

The prison officials has also been a huge blessing to us during the numerous visits, using this Chidiebere's as a reference point.

The prison officials makes the work easier for us by calling those who are on bail with simple offences.  The officials were welcoming,as they not only bought the idea promoted by Law clinic they were also of assistance the best they could. They were always patient with us, always willing to jump protocols for us for example even when we fail to fix an appointment with them before coming,  once they see that we are Law students of Abia State University Law clinic they do all they can to create ample time for us to do what we have come to do.
I have learnt the reason why the court treat matters as regards Fundamental right the way they do.
The observation of the current state of the detainee used as a case study made me realize that the rights of individuals are even though not well known but is actually sacrosanct and should be held in high esteem at all times.