My name is Bolodeoku oluwatoyin,
a 500 level clinician from the University of Abuja Law Clinic and my visit to
Suleja Prison to interview pre trial detainees during the NULAI/OSIWA Pre trial
Detention project was quite significant to me.
While at Suleja Prison,
each team sat in a circular pattern while we waited to receive pre trial
detainees and interview them. My team interviewed seven detainees at the end of
the process, each with their own peculiar story, some leaving doubts while
others left us in tears. I found this aspect of the process particularly
relevant to me because I learnt many things, such as paying vey kin attention
to the details given by a detainee. I found listening to be a very important
skill because clients and detainees alike get offended when they sense that the
other party is not listening. Also I learnt that listening helps the lawyer
realize where the detainee/ client is either not telling the truth or seems to
be holding back some important details. For instance, one of the detainees we
interviewed was quite aggressive, he didn't want us to contact any member of
his family and also his story seemed very out of place.
Another important thing I
learnt to value was our language. One of the detainees could only communicate
in Hausa and if we didn't have one student who could communicate in Hausa, we
would have been at a loss. Also the testimony I got from one of my teammate who
went to the court on behalf of the team, but because the proceedings that day
was held in Hausa, he wasn't aware that the detainee had been acquitted and
released from prison. This made me understand that as lawyers where ever we
find ourselves we have to find a way to understand the language of that place.
Other issues I observed
includes obtaining of proper information concerning detainees such as which
court the detainee is to be taken to, the charge sheet against the detainee,
the appropriate date to take the detainees to court and the location of the
court as well. Transportation was also a key problem.
Being a part of this project
has allowed me to understand better the concept of freedom, watching them
constrained in prison behind those walls made me value freedom and also the
desire to in every possible way bring freedom back to those have been
wrongfully detained.
There were several aspects
of the project that were really enlightening but this was most impactful for me
and am grateful for the opportunity.
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