- Stakeholders blame correctional centres’ poor logistics for long detention of 53,411 inmates awaiting trials
Stakeholders have said many awaiting trial inmates in most of the custodies of the Nigerian Correctional Service are languishing and staying beyond normal time because of logistics challenges confronting the federal agency.
They said the prisoners may stay for long periods in detention as they are not being adequately brought to court to continue with their trails.
Findings revealed that lack of escort vehicles to convey awaiting trial inmates or detainees to court have hindered effective service delivery by the Service across the country.
It was gathered that the Ilesa and Ile-Ife Medium Security Custodial Centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service have only two operational vehicles used for the conveyance of hundreds of their awaiting trial inmates to the 32 courts across the state.
For instance in Ilesa custody, four of the operational vehicles have developed faults beyond repair, a situation causing a perversion of justice in the state.
Available information showed that challenges with the vehicles range from engine to gear faults, among others.
Also, it was gathered that the bus being used as an Ambulance is totally down.
Sources within the custodial centre who regard themselves as stakeholders in ensuring prompt delivery of justice, stated that Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons, just like others across the country, require urgent intervention from the governments as their present situation is not in the best interest of the inmates.
They explained that inmates are unable to attend court proceedings due to lack of operational vehicles which made them stay longer than expected as awaiting trial inmates.
One of them who did not want to be named said, “The present situation of Ilesa prison especially is disheartening. All the operational vehicles are grounded and beyond repair. We urgently need the assistance of the federal and state governments. They should provide us more vehicles for the easy conveyance of awaiting trial inmates to various courts in the state. We have only one vehicle to take over 700 inmates to about 32 courts in Osun.
“Many of the awaiting trial inmates are staying longer than expected because they could not go to court whenever their matters come up. We implore Governor Ademola Adeleke to please help us and make our service efficient,” the source disclosed.
It was also gathered that the prison’s medical centre lacks necessary drugs for inmates’ use while the prison management has resorted to self-help in renovating some of the buildings and offices.
A warder who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “We need more drugs and other items in the health centre. Most of the drugs are donated by NGOs and individuals. The government should please supply us necessary drugs and sensitive materials for the inmates’ use.
“Our offices as well need to be renovated. We are the one soliciting for help from individuals to renovate some of the offices. The state government should please help us. We appreciate them for what they are doing.”
Presently, there are 53,411 awaiting trial inmates across the country, out of 80,088 total inmates in the 253 correctional centres in the country.
Findings by The Point in some courts revealed that many cases have suffered several adjournments owing to absence of defendants who have been remanded in prisons.
A court clerk who did not want her name mentioned disclosed that many lawyers withdraw their appearances in cases whenever defendants who stay in prisons fail to be brought to court.
“The absences of defendants who have been remanded in Correctional Centres have been affecting adjudication of their cases. I don’t blame them; I blame prison officials who fail to bring them to court. I heard that roasters are being made for these inmates to ensure their appearances in courts as and when due, still, most of them are not being brought to court. I think it is because of the logistics challenges they are having because they use only one vehicle to transfer inmates to different courts,” she said.
A human rights activist, Lola Wey has asked the Federal Government to look into logistics across correctional centres and fix vehicles that are in and conditions.
Wey wondered why huge money is being budgeted to take prisoners to courts in Nigeria’s annual budget and inmates would be languishing without trial.
If the prison congestion challenge in the country would be tackled, Wey advocated for proper monitoring on the expenditures of the budget for correctional centres.
“Many cases have been abandoned just because defendants who come from prisons are not forthcoming. It is true that logistics challenge is one of the factors hindering them and the government should look into why there are no adequate vehicles to transport inmates vis a vis the budget to the Correctional Service,” she demanded.
A lawyer who craved anonymity said, “There is yearly allocation budgeted for all prisons in the country to take prisoners to court but these funds are being embezzled by some prison top officials.
“We lawyers are facing difficulties due to this challenge. We will come to court and accused persons won’t show up. You will hear stories like the prison did not bring them to court. It is really frustrating.
“Even in some cases, inmates have to contribute money to buy fuel for prison to take them to court. I want to plead with both Osun and the Federal Government to provide our prisons in the state with necessary facilities. The governor should give out vehicles for the sake of the inmates and to reduce congestion in our prisons.”
