As
humans we don't appreciate what we have until it is gone. Freedom is
like that. It is like an air. When you have it, you do not notice it.
Once a man has tasted freedom, he will never be content to be a slave.
It is true that good men may enjoy the freedom which they merit, and the
bad the curb which they need but many who stay in prison let go of
their attachments and managed to enjoy the simple pleasures of prison
life. Validation and affection and approval received from loved ones are
hard to abandon, but mental toughness is letting go, relinquishing and
giving away all of the things, that ego would like to attach to.
ABSU LAW CLINIC offers freedom from the chaos of prison. This kind of prison it offers is that of being unimprisoned or unenslaved or uncoerced, the type of liberty which money or position of prominence cannot buy.
ABSU
LAW CLINIC has been assiduous in offering this services "free of
charge". It is one avenue that has amplified the emotional stress of
missing loved ones; people in the free world who stood behind them and
suffered for and with them.
The ongoing NULAI PRE-TRIAL PROJECT has been of tremendous impact to not just me but my colleagues especially.
I am a member of Okigwe Prisons Department, hence my reflection on one
of the cases I'm handling will be restricted to its happenings.
From
the interactions, I had with the detainees, I realized that few of them
sought redemption for their mistakes and consciously worked hard to
become better men, they had come to a place of self-acceptance for their
past deeds. Unsurprisingly, the men who accepted their faults humbly,
were the ones who seemed less likely to commit immoral acts once freed
from incarceration, these are the ones who had the most respect and
status in prison because they acknowledged their deeds and took
responsibility for them. While "FEW" who claim to have been "framed" or
"guiltless", who feel that they should not be kept there, for they did
no wrong, but sooner or later, I realized that these are the ones, who
constantly engage in more atrocious acts. The last phrase I used,
shouldn't be interpreted wrongly, for I used the term "few", for in some
cases, some may actually claim not to be guilty of such crimes and on
discovery, they were not actually.
On one of my visit to
Okigwe Prison and my interaction with EGBE IFEANYI who was charged in
ISUIKWUATO MAGISTRATE COURT for the offence of unlawful abduction of a
girl he has been in an amorous relationship with but unknowingly, the
parents of the girl came over to his place and took her away, and
subsequently he was arrested and detained.
This particular
case caught my attention, and I became interested in it, as I wondered
why he should be arrested for an act, the girl gave her consent to, for
at least 2yrs bearing in mind the fact that she is no minor.
Upon
obtaining his charge sheets and bail conditions which included getting
at least two sureties, we visited the relatives who said statements very
contrary to what we had gotten from the inmate.
We
discovered that this inmate in question has been in the prison custody
three to four times, and has been bailed severally. He is known in the
community for stealing, causing bodily harm to several persons etc., and
the girl he abducted was a minor. He also had a wife who left with his
two kids. The king and elders, as well as neighbours and friends around
corroborated this new information we received. We were shocked and
awe-struck, as we listened patiently. Some even pleaded with us to keep
him there for a long time, while others prayed that he remain there till
death.
MY THOUGHTS: SHOULD A PERSON WHO HAS LIVED A LIFE OF
FULFILMENT BE INCARCERATED FOR A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT BEING
CARED FOR, OR LOVED BY PEOPLE OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
IS IT
BECAUSE OF DESPERATION, WE HASTILY FREE SUCH CALIBRE OF MEN WHO
DISREGARD THE HAPPINESS AND JOY OF OTHERS AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF
LIFE? WHAT THEN IS THE ROLE OF PRISONS?
I, Ukeje Prudence,
believe that acceptance for crimes committed is the huge part of healing
and it is the precondition of change. Denial leaves us stuck,
acceptance is the only way they can be redeemed for their mistakes and
work consciously to be better. Accepting and acknowledging wrongdoings
and the pain it caused to victims, family and the community is one
important step towards redemption.
For those who find it hard
to accept their wrong, I feel that these ones are more likely to commit
severe crimes when being released.
Being incarcerated should
also be looked at honestly in another dimension, as a corrective
measure. When such ones are forced to let go of power and freedom which
is gut-wrenching, realize the suffering people in the outside world
experienced for them, and the freedom they once enjoyed, they will be
moved to accept their wrongs and work to become better men. Indeed,
self-acceptance is the key to redemption.
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