Presidential Committee On Prisons Reform, Decongestion Releases 30 Inmates In Enugu, 23 Anambra

……….. Frowns at undue justice delay

The Chairman, Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion and Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello has frowned at the challenges of undue remanded inmates in prisons for several years without their cases being heard in Court while berating the practice of holden charge issued by Magistrate on cases they lack jurisdiction to try.

The Committee Chairman expressed the displeasure when he led his Committee on prison decongestion to Anambra State during the weekend being the 16th state visited in continuation of its mandate across the country.

He urged the State Chief Judge to address these challenges by ensuring speedy trials noting that the practice was one of the reasons for the high rate of psychosis among the prisoners who had lost all hope in the system.

A statement by the Deputy Director (Press), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Ogundoro Modupe, quoted Justice Bello as advising the prison officials to regularly take the inmates to court and ensure that the registrar of the court gives them a return date at all times.

The Chairman in his goodwill message commended the President’s foresight in inaugurating the Committee to reform and fast track the Decongestion of prisons nationwide. He said that the Committee was inaugurated with the sole mandate to release inmates with an option of fine and review cases of inmates that have spent more than five years awaiting trial.

The Chairman also informed the gathering of efforts made to ensure the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice law, thus he was glad that Anambra State has one, which is in the process of being reviewed according to the State Attorney- General.

At the Anambra Prison, a total of twenty-three cases where treated. Seven convicts of minor offences with option of fine were released. One of them, a 19 years SS3 student serving 3 years imprisonment at the Aguata medium security prison, whose sentence had an option of fine, admitted to the Committee that he stole money in order to pay for his exam fee.

Due to the fact that he is very young and remorseful, and the fact that he was willing to return to school to write his WAEC examination, he was released. The Attorney-General of the State promised that the State would pay his exam fees.

Inmates who had been incarcerated for 5 years and above at the Nnewi prison without legal representation were brought before the Committee. The Chairman urged the legal aid representative to ensure that the 7 inmates get legal representation so that they can resume appearance in court for their trials.

However, the Committee could not release a lot of inmates due to the fact that their crimes were capital in nature and drug related offences. The Chairman lamented on the high rate of drug abuse by youths which is ruining their future by luring them into crime.

He therefore enjoined the government to improve the health facilities in prison and ensure that inmates with mental conditions and communicable diseases are quarantined and given appropriate treatment.

Justice Bello urged the Government to articulate ways to absorb inmates who have managed to acquire skills and education while in prison, back into the society, noting that failure to do so would be dangerous because the released inmates may likely to develop more sophistication in committing crimes against the society. He emphasized on the need for some reforms such as christening the Nigerian Prisons with a new name that symbolizes it as a Correctional institution. He also stated that the prisoners be given a level playing ground in the job market, thus discrimination against convicts will be eradicated.

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Willie Obiano commended the Chairman for his contribution to the reform of the Justice System in Nigeria. He stated that the State was very concerned about what he called ‘recycled criminals’ and the unwillingness of witnesses to come forward in court trials.

 He therefore advised that there is an urgent need for the review of the witness protection programme in Nigeria. He disclosed to the Committee the commendable work being undertaken by the State towards rehabilitating not just prisoners but also mentally challenged persons all over the State.

The Governor expressed his willingness to act on recommendations from the Controller of Prisons Anambra State concerning the sick and mentally challenged inmates as well as Nursing Mothers towards ensuring that they are all properly rehabilitated.

Also in Enugu state, Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion led by its Chairman and Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello, effected the released of a total number of 30 inmates in Enugu Prisons.

 This was made known by Justice Ishaq Bello when he led members of the Committee to pay a courtesy call to Enugu State Government House. He stated that, “Enugu is the 15th state we are visiting. So far, we have released about 4,000 inmates across the country. For me, it is heartwarming that your Excellency the Governor of Enugu State has adopted the Administration of Criminal Justice in the state.”

The Chairman, in a goodwill message commended President’s foresight in inaugurating the Committee to reform and fast track the Decongestion of prisons nationwide. He said that the Committee was inaugurated with the sole mandate to release inmates with an option of fine and review cases of inmates that have spent more than five years awaiting trial. He expressed delight that the concerted efforts of the federal government to ensure the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act into law has also been adopted by the state.

Speaking on the on the issue of inmates who have managed to develop themselves with skills and education while in prison, he urged the Nigeria Government to articulate ways to absorb them back into the society, noting that failure to do so will be precarious because the inmates would be more sophisticated in committing heinous crimes against the society.

Furthermore, the Chairman buttressed on the need for some reforms such as christening the Nigerian Prisons with a new name that symbolizes it as a Correctional institution. He advised that the inmates be given a level playing ground in the job market, thus discrimination against convicts be eradicated.

 Honourable Justice Ishaq Bello called on the Governor to intervene in the provision of Skill acquisition program for the inmates. He expressed dissatisfaction regarding some anomalies in the judgments given by some courts that further congested the prisons such as convicting a suspect for “an intention to commit an offence”.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commended the Chairman on his contribution in the Reforms of the Justice System in Nigeria. He believed that the adherence to established laws would help to ensure the reform of the Criminal Justice Sector.

At the Enugu Prison, three convicts of minor offences with option of fine where released, twenty-five persons were released on the basis of age, sickness and mental retardation and two female convicts. Amongst the inmates released was a paralysed sixty- year old man who had been imprisoned for thirty-one years. Two persons who were presented for consideration on the grounds of ill-health were refused pardon due to the enormity of their crime and the fact that they had not served up to fourteen years in prison which is the mandate of the Committee. In addition, one male and one female inmates sentenced to three years imprisonment for child stealing were denied pardon due to the enormity of their crime though they had spent one year three months in prison.

The Committee Chairman reiterated that inmates who are convicted for offences that inflict grievous harm to others would not attract the sympathy of the Committee.

A total of thirty inmates were released. Inmates whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment were released based on the fact that they have met the required criteria for which a person can be considered for pardoned.  A father, son and nephew who were sentenced to life imprisonment were released after the Committee reviewed their case and found them worthy of pardon after spending 15 years in prison. It is worthy of note that the son who at the time of the offence was nineteen (19) years old is currently a 300 level undergraduate of the National Open University.

The Chairman advised that his grades be transferred for him to continue his studies after release and they should all be of good behavior. An 88 year old inmate and his son sentenced to life imprisonment, who had served for 15 years were also pardoned.

The Climax of the visit was the release of two female convicts on death row. The inmates through their testimonies where lured by their boyfriends (who are currently on death row) to commit the heinous crimes. One of them, Miss Nkiru (29 year old) who was convicted at the age of 19 and had spent te n(10) years in prison, stated that she had enrolled in National Open University where she’s currently studying Education.

The Committee noted that she was very remorseful and even though on death row didn’t give up on life but still had hope by enrolling in school and believing that one day she would use it to better the future of millions of Nigerians.

The other female convict Miss Anita (26 year old) single parent, who is presently a final year student of National Open University was praised to be the best in her class by the school’s desk officer. The Committee reviewed her case and saw that she was remorseful.

Hence, she was released on the grounds that she was lured by her boyfriend to commit the crime and also has a 5 year old son who at this stage of his life needs the love and the care of a mother.

In addition, seven inmates awaiting trial from Nsukka prison, who had spent 5 years and above without legal representation received dates for their next court hearing from the Chief Judge of the state. The Chairman of the Committee urged the Legal Aid Council representative to ensure that the inmates be assigned lawyers.

The Chairman in his statement frowned at the practice of arraigning suspects of capital offences before a magistrate court that lacks jurisdiction to try such cases. He further noted that due to the court’s lack of jurisdiction, the magistrates usually adjourns sine die

Honourable Justice Ishaq Bello warned all released to stay away from crime while emphasizing that there never be a second chance if they are caught committing crime.

The Federal Ministry of Justice and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) extended monetary assistance to the released inmates for their transportation and medical expenses.