NULAI/OSIWA PRE TRIAL
PROJECT SELF REFLECTION
My name is Uchechi Joy, a 400 level clinician from the University of
Abuja Law Clinic and I must say that studying law prepares one for long library
hours of reading or for someone like me who hates reading in the library it's
long hours of reading in my room. It doesn't just stop there, it also involves
learning different aspects of the law,
from criminal, civil, land law, trusts and equity to legislations, principles
and maxims. What it doesn't prepare you for is the real world out there where a
huge disparity between law in the books and law in practice lies.
Participating in the project organized by NULAI in conjunction with
OSIWA, my job as a clinician was to meet with awaiting trial inmates, conduct
interviews and get them connected to legal representatives in situations where
they had none to further take up their cases. The reason for this project was
to decongest the KUJE and SULEJA prison respectively, and as at the time of the
project both prisons were overcrowded with majority of inmates being awaiting
trial detainees. This came as a shock to me because as a law student who
understood the principle of fair hearing and the presumption of innocence until
proven guilty, it made no sense that people could be arrested and thrown in jail
without being tried properly in a competent court. The nature of this problem
changed my opinion of law in practice significantly.
My first encounter was with an inmate who was obviously awaiting trial,
from the fact of his case it was obvious there has been so many breach to his
fundamental Human Rights, also he had been denied access to legal
representation, bail and communication to his family members, in essence his
family were unaware of his stay in prison. This is the plight of one of many
inmates at the KUJE, SULEJA and other prisons around the country, it was also visibly noticeable that the
prison facility lacked in provision of skill acquisition or vocational training
for the inmates, this underlying factor is a problem because the average inmate
while he's in detention is idle and lacks any activity to participate in, this
lacunae has not just deprived him of gaining necessary skill but has also
created a means to pick up bad vices while in prison.
This experience was a significant one for me because before the project
I had an entirely different perspective of the reality faced by individuals who
have been in contact with the law, the common man who has no idea of what the
law or its principles are, he is only aware of the procedural aspects that
limits and tramples his right as an individual.
Also the prison officer who is not aware that the prisoner has a right
and that he as a prison officer has a duty and obligation owed towards that
particular inmate, the police officer is also not left out of this experience.
I therefore can effectively say this experience was an eye opener for me
because I have come to the ultimate realization that the books will not just
suffice in the clarion practice of this law, rather that resilience, Courage,
strength and integrity shall be my handy tools in surmounting this challenge
ahead.
My experience has taught me that a lawyer might be a gateway and
facilitator to Justice, but he first has to be an agent that propels change,
seeing that there is a huge gap in the knowledge of the right application of
law, a lawyer is the one to stand in the gap to achieve the objective of
justice and fairness for all. A lawyer is termed learned not just because of
the knowledge he possesses but also skills to actualize this knowledge and one
of them is to Advocate. Which is the outspoken recommendation in support of a
particular cause, creating awareness of the provisions in our legislations that
would enhance a system where justice is dispensed freely and fairly.
The PRE-TRIAl project may be coming to an end but the experience lingers
on, like the old saying goes "experience is the best teacher " my
interactions with the inmates and prison officials has taught me a whole lot
that I couldn't have possibly learnt in the classroom. It is on this note that
I extend my gratitude to the University of Abuja Law Clinic, my Coach and
clinic Coordinator, NULAI/OSIWA for the kind opportunity to participate in this
life changing experience even before practice as a real lawyer.
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