‘Over 80 percent of awaiting trial inmates need legal representation’

The Nigerian Prisons Service, (NPS) on Thursday expressed
disappointment that the over 80 percent Awaiting Trial inmates
across the country are not given enough legal representation in
court.

Spokesman of NPS, Francis Enobore who said this in Abuja at a
seminal in collaboration with the Prisoners Rehabilitation and
Welfare Action (PRAWA), and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, (
LACON).

These bodies supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of
the British Government has been involved in training and retraining
of paralegal officers as well as provision of Pro Bono services for
easy access to legal representation for indigent persons.

Out of the total prison population of about 73, 000, findings
revealed that 48, 798 are Awaiting Trial inmates. 70, 123 are male
while 1, 399 are female.

Convicted male inmates number stands at 22, 388 while the number
of convicted female inmates is 336 bringing the total of convicted
inmates to 22, 724.

Enobore who was represented by Samaila Bulus of the service
Public Relation Unite said: ” However, it is important that we put
fellow Nigerians behind these fingers in order to appreciate the
pains and mental toture they pass through daily. While it is beyond
the scope of this discussion to X-ray the reason for this
unfortunate development, it suffices to mention that quite a number
of persons languish in prison custody as Awaiting Trial detainees
because they can’t afford legal representation.

” It is therefore behold on us as a people to assist these
indigent citizens with pro bono legal representation in order to
salvage their unfortunate situation.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to drive the course of
prison decongestion through the National Stakeholders Committee on
prison Reform and decongestion under the able leadership of his
lordship the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Chief Judge Hon.
Justice Ishaq Bello.

” As the committee visits prisons, several prisoners are being
released while cutting down the bureaucracies impeding quick
justice dispensation. Significantly, this singular approach also
help to reduce tension in the yard as inmates now have a sense of
belonging that they have not been totally abandoned by the
government.”

Executive Director of PRAWA, Mrs. Uju Agomoh said there is also
a strong need for new legislation targeted at mentally ill person
to replace what he described as grossly outdated and regressive
Lunacy Act of 1956.

Others areas for development according to Agomoh included the
establishment of a database management system and a gender policy
for the prisons service.

The Nigerian Prisons Service, (NPS) on Thursday expressed
disappointment that the over 80 percent Awaiting Trial inmates
across the country are not given enough legal representation in
court.

Spokesman of NPS, Francis Enobore who said this in Abuja at a
seminal in collaboration with the Prisoners Rehabilitation and
Welfare Action (PRAWA), and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, (
LACON).

These bodies supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of
the British Government has been involved in training and retraining
of paralegal officers as well as provision of Pro Bono services for
easy access to legal representation for indigent persons.

Out of the total prison population of about 73, 000, findings
revealed that 48, 798 are Awaiting Trial inmates. 70, 123 are male
while 1, 399 are female.

Convicted male inmates number stands at 22, 388 while the number
of convicted female inmates is 336 bringing the total of convicted
inmates to 22, 724.

Enobore who was represented by Samaila Bulus of the service
Public Relation Unite said: ” However, it is important that we put
fellow Nigerians behind these fingers in order to appreciate the
pains and mental toture they pass through daily. While it is beyond
the scope of this discussion to X-ray the reason for this
unfortunate development, it suffices to mention that quite a number
of persons languish in prison custody as Awaiting Trial detainees
because they can’t afford legal representation.

” It is therefore behold on us as a people to assist these
indigent citizens with pro bono legal representation in order to
salvage their unfortunate situation.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to drive the course of
prison decongestion through the National Stakeholders Committee on
prison Reform and decongestion under the able leadership of his
lordship the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Chief Judge Hon.
Justice Ishaq Bello.

” As the committee visits prisons, several prisoners are being
released while cutting down the bureaucracies impeding quick
justice dispensation. Significantly, this singular approach also
help to reduce tension in the yard as inmates now have a sense of
belonging that they have not been totally abandoned by the
government.”

Executive Director of PRAWA, Mrs. Uju Agomoh said there is also
a strong need for new legislation targeted at mentally ill person
to replace what he described as grossly outdated and regressive
Lunacy Act of 1956.

Others areas for development according to Agomoh included the
establishment of a database management system and a gender policy
for the prisons service.