PRISONERS WELFARE

The Catholic Institute for Development Justice and Peace (CIDJAP) organized a one day Strategy Meeting of stakeholders in the Justice and Prisoners Welfare Sector in Enugu State. This meeting was convened at Ofuobi Africa Center, Independence Layout, Enugu on the 5th of March 2015.

The meeting had key actors in the sector including the Director of CIDJAP, Msgr. Prof. Obiora Ike the host, Anthony Ikechukwu Ani (SAN) the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Justice Enugu State, Sir Alloy Uchenwa the Comptroller of Prisons Enugu Prisons, the Commissioner of Police represented by the Deputy Commissioner Oyekunle O.A., Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekereoku the Executive Director of CAPIO, the Deputy Comptroller of Enugu maximum prison, Deputy Comptroller Olo prison, Mr. Isaac Onukwube from the National Orientation Agency, representatives from Nsukka and Oji Prisons, a representative from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and representatives from the LACON and the office of the zonal Director LACON. Other participants are some CSOs and faith based organisations including FIDA, PRAWA, CAPIO, NHRC and the Media (NTA and SUN Newspaper) representatives.

The meeting was organized to form a Criminal Justice and Prisoners/ ATPs Welfare Committee who will meet at intervals to address some challenging issues bordering on the delivery of Justice in Enugu State and the welfare of the Prisoners and Awaiting Trail Persons in the prisons. The aim of this meeting included but is not limited to the following:

1. Speedy dispensation of Criminal Justice in Enugu State.
2. Improving the standards of living of Prison inmates including all welfare packages.
3. Addressing Juveniles in Prisons.
4. Improving on prison visitation by the Governor and the Chief Judge of the State for granting of State pardon.
5. Enhance passing of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Bill by the Enugu State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) and the Bail and Sentencing Procedure Bill by CIDJAP into law in the State.
6. Addressing Alternative Dispute Resolution as mid way to achieving Justice and fairness to parties.
7. Proffering measures to enhance legal processes.

The Stakeholders decried the poor situation in the prisons as presented by the Comptroller of the State Prisons. It is worrisome to discover that the Enugu State maximum prison was established in 1915 with a capacity for 600 inmates but is currently housing 1754 inmates with no further structures since then. Nsukka Prison was built in 1926, Oji Prison in 1992 and Ibite Olo Farm center in 1976. All these prisons are housing more than should be their capacity and the inmates are sleeping in turns in the cells that are meant for 2 but taking 8 persons per cell. The presentation of the Comptroller had the following highlights:

• Transportation of Awaiting Trail Persons (ATPs) to court is being threatened; Enugu Prisons has only 4 serviceable vehicles to cover 61 courts and Nsukka has 20 courts with only one vehicle. Olo has only one Tractor which has been there since establishment in 1976.
• Inadequate structural facility to support the Modern situation, inadequate facilities for inmates training and that the equipments in the prisons are in a deplorable condition.
• No adequate means of communication other than the regular GSM which should not be the case.
• No water tankers. The water tanker currently in use is that donated a long time ago by CIDJAP.
• No ambulances for use in case of emergencies for hospital care.
• No statutory and functional re-integration programme for ex-prison inmates.
• No Amnesty visit to Enugu State Prison since 2013.

Though facilities for trainings in the Prisons are poor, the comptroller reported that education in prison has improved within the last four years. Enugu Maximum Prison was approved by National Examination Council of Nigeria (NECO) in 2011 as a center for external examinations. 27 inmates sat for the exam in 2012 while 75 inmates registered in 2014. National Open University also approved the Enugu Maximum Prison as a Special Center which has 51 registered students with 1 inmate already graduated bagging Bachelor of Science Degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

After the deliberation with submissions from the erudite personalities including the Honourable attorney General of the State, the Comptroller of State Prisons, the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency; Others included several Justice and Prisoners Welfare Stakeholders, Lawyers, NGOs and FBO and Media representatives, the committee came up with the following recommendations and issues for further deliberation.

1. There is need for a stakeholder synergy with the police where NGOs shall carry out some kind of sensitization for the Government to fund police investigations properly.
2. There is need to consider introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as part of the ACJ Bill and Magistrate Court Law. This shall give fair room for victims of injustice to have their opinions and wishes protected alongside societal norms. Victims of cases like rape or others wishing to remain anonymous will achieve redress and counselling for psychological stability, while lawyers' works will be reduced.
3. There is need for more in the area of rehabilitation of inmates- CAPIO mentioned its plan to set up some form of half way homes for EX prisoners. This shall enhance reintegration exercises. Government need sensitization on this issue to achieve the said goal.
4. The Office of the DPP to act within a time frame in giving the legal opinion- this is already being practised (2 weeks to write legal opinion). More officers should be encouraged to facilitate the delivery of Justice.
5. The need for more infrastructural development because the cells do not meet up to the standard of the United Nations minimum standard rule for treatment of prisoners. Government should be called to review prison situations and improve the standards.
6. The issue of long adjournments- the judges and magistrates should have a time frame to conclude criminal cases in their jurisdiction.
7. The stringent bail conditions often given should be looked into. This shall encourage decongesting of the Prisons.
8. The intention to put to use the abandoned juvenile centre at Ngwo as reported by the Comptroller of Prison should be speedied up to address the issues of Juvenile in Prisons.
9. The Human Rights Desks in the Police Stations should be active and up-to-duty to give a face to the Police activities on human rights.
10. The Committee shall look critically at the issues that drive people into prison and set agenda for justice and prison improvement, stakeholders must give voices to the voiceless. Hence the need to work on the family, attitude and societal values.

The meeting called on all stakeholders to do more in executing their duties and making sure that all cases are speedily dispensed with. They were appreciated for their time and patience and asked to dispose themselves for a follow up meeting which shall be communicated to them dully.

CIDJAP hosted and sponsored this meeting as part of the years Justice department's programme for 2015.

It is a routine thing in the desk of the Prisoners Welfare, that every quarter statutorily, all the four prisons in Enugu State are visited with packages which include medicines and medications, food and beverages, toiletries, detergents, cloths and deodorants, etc.

This visit is done to show the prisoners some human face and concern.

The deputy comptroller of the Enugu maximum prisons expressed his joy and satisfaction with the work of CIDJAP saying that this is not the first time this is happening, that CIDJAP is now like a brother to the prisons, showing them care and consoling them while giving them every assistance both legal, medical, psychological, social, educational and even financial.

He says that CIDJAP means a lot to them and that his heart goes out to Msgr. Obiora Ike for this initiative and support.