Kolais Zanti Tamar, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

Kolais Zanti Tamar,
Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

OVERVIEW

The dream of being a lawyer has had a lot of reasons attached to it, one of which was to impact positively to the society. Being part of this project has widened my perception on many aspects in the administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria and has also exposed me to skills one cannot learn in the classrooms. Studying law, I have come to find out that procedural law is not the same as the substantive law and being a part of this project has given me an inside on how adjudication really works.
The project, OSIWA PRE-TRIAL DETENTION, was established to provide Pro Bono legal aid in form of legal representatives to those inmates who lack one.
The impact so far that this project had on me has changed the stereotype I shared alongside many Nigerians that most, if not all inmates, were criminals else they won't possibly be in jail. Which is most probably true since every breach attracts sanctions, right? What I didn't know was convicts are not the most populated in prisons. Persons awaiting trial were; and the difference was strikingly prominent.


THE CHALLENGE
This struck me on how most Nigerians do not know how they can passively waive their rights due to ignorance or lack of funds...but from the inmates I interviewed four out of five were due to pure ignorance of the right to be tried for the offence charged in a court. All of which lacked legal representatives. Some accepted their fate and have been in custody for three years and some, even more without the opportunity of being to court.
More so,almost all of the inmates I interviewed were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and severely harassed and assaulted into confessing to a crime they claimed not to have committed. Although, I had it at the back of my mind not to add emotional attachments when dealing with the inmates because anyone can say anything to regain their freedom but I strongly believe there is at least an element of truth considering how these same law enforcement personnel has assaulted and harassed lot of Nigerians but still get away with it all in the name of fighting crimes. And most of the victims, who are innocent,suffer for this.
It was heartwarming when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo set up a committee in response to the public outcry and media petitions to investigate on the allegations made against the unlawful arrest, detention and assaults by SARS. Since the main aim of the law is to protect its citizens and if the citizens are not protected, it invalidates the purpose for the supremacy of the gerund norm of our legal system, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011), as amended.
However, the outcome of the report led to the reformation of the SARS by the Inspector General himself which is receiving public commendation which also confirms to a large extent, the innocence of some of these inmates who were wrongly arrested by the SARS.



CONCLUSION
All these being said, the strife for a better justice system is not one that should be put off because of flaws like this: major or minute. It is a continuous process that we shouldn't relent till its achieved.
Thus the impact of this project to me is to create more awareness to Nigerian citizens as to their rights because in administering justice, upholding one's right is key which has various legal backing. Furthermore, ignorance is not an excuse or defence under law and this alone has caused most of our citizens to subconsciously or even consciously accept their fate as "victims of circumstances" and this in eventuality tampers with achieving justice for all which is a three way traffic: for the accused, the victim and the society.


RECOMMENDATION
Having benefitted from this platform. I wish to recommend that more of this CSOs should spring up in various facets in the society or should help encourage Law Clinics participation in practical knowledge sharing. Also, lawyers should be encouraged to offer services on platforms like this as it speeds up the administration of criminal justice system and helps in decongesting prisons.
Also, continuous sensitization to the public on citizen's right to legal representation in law courts should be encouraged and conducted in public gatherings such as town hall meetings and the likes.
#JusticeForOneJusticeForAll.


Please note that this study was conducted in the Lafia Prison, Nasarawa state.
Thank you.