Contrary to the widespread ideology that people who go to
prisons have not only committed a crime but are serving their sentence, It has
been recorded that 70% of prison inmates in Nigeria are “AWAITING TRIAL” which
is roughly about 47,229 detainees out of an astonishing total of 67,586
detainees. Quite alarming one must say. It is on this note that University of
Abuja Law Clinic gladly participated in the NULAI/OSIWA Pre Trial Detention
Project where law clinicinas were actively engaged in providing access to
justice to pretrial detainees from Kuje and Suleja Prison in Abuja.
Being a clinician has exposed and given me privileged
opportunities to be a part of this massive and life changing project. I must
state that the process and preparation for the pre-trial project wasn’t an easy
one. We had to go through so many trainings in order to polish and improve our
skills to be able to not just interact effectively with prison inmates, but
also to able to gain their trust enough for them to disclose vital information
to us. The preparation and build up to the project was filled with anxiousness
and excitement.
My team and I visited Kuje Prisons and what really appealed
to my inner man was the heart to heart conversation we had with one of the
inmates. He was a photographer trying to make ends meet. He was unfortunate to
experience the harshness of life, imprisoned after standing as a surety for a
childhood friend who purchased a car and failed to complete payment for the
car. After hearing his story, I
remembered a childhood friend of mine who ended up in a similar predicament
where his phone was stolen and in the shocking turn of events, victim turned
offender, instead of getting justice for a crime committed against his person
and property, he was taken to prison. Sadly, and unfortunately for my friend,
he never saw the bright and sunny day of which radiated freedom which he
dreamed that he would one day return to.
This made me realize that the issue of torture and brutality
in the Nigerian prison was a prevalent issue. Looking at the sores on the
inmate’s feet and ankles really drilled and engraved an everlasting scar in my
heart, as it was evident he was beaten silly. Section 8 of the ACJA
(ADMINISTRATION of CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT) 2015 stipulated clearly that a suspect
must not be subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment which includes
torture of any sort. This sadly isn’t what is happening today in our prisons
and police cells as suspects are beaten until they confess to crimes they
sometimes know nothing about.
Furthermore, prior to this pre-trial project, I had the
myopic view that most people who have been taken to prison have not only been
convicted of a crime, but also are serving time. However, after series of
interviews and interactions with inmates, I had a total change of view. To
think that 70% of prison inmates in Nigeria are yet to know their fate, and as
such are just wasting their youthful and active years away in prisons for
crimes that some don’t even know of, sends chills and shivers down my spine.
Ideas and visions are lost for what? … The incompetence and ineffectiveness of
a crooked and failing system.
Lastly, this pre-trial experience has not only improved my
skills in interacting with people, but also exposed me to various laws and acts
such as the ACJA and even though I have become a new person, who is more sensitive
to his environment, it is evidently clear that we need to have a rethink in
handling of criminal cases and issues, because if we follow through and
continue on this path, there is only one certainty, and that is the purpose of
the prisons and correctional facilities which is supposed to remodel
individuals to be remorseful and better citizens, will fail terribly and
ultimately, the goal of creating proper access
to justice; am sorry, will be
aborted and defeated.
I AM IBAZEBOR LAWRENCE, a 400 level clinician from the
prestigious UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA LAW CLINIC, AND THIS IS MY SELF REFECTION…
THANK YOU.
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