*Tasks media on intense enlightenment
Stakeholders holders in the corrections sector have called for sustainable strategies for reducing high number of pre-trial detainees in custodial centers for effective implementation of non-custodial measure.
Founder and Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, (PRAWA), Dr. Uju Agomoh, said the strategies will promote effective reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates and ex-inmates.
She made this known at a Press Conference and Strategy meeting with on Setting Agenda for Administration of Justice and Corrections Reforms in Nigeria, organized by PRAWA in partnership with the Open Society for West Africa, (OSIWA) and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (NBA-SPIDEL), yesterday in Abuja.
To said sustainability can be attained through “full implementation of section 12 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019; and having a strong synergy between the arresting bodies and prosecuting agencies.
“We encourage the provision of pro bono services and improved access to pre-trial detainees in the custodial centers by agencies statutorily mandated to provide free legal services and CSOs;
“We Strongly recommend the need to enhance synergy between the Legal Aid Counsel of Nigeria. National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and non-governmental organizations.”
Dr. Agomoh observed that some of the factors responsible for he high number of Awaiting Trial Prisoners, (ATPs) in custody include slow dispensation of justice especially for capital offenders, delay in prosecution of criminal cases, lack of synergy between the arresting and prosecuting agencies and non compliance with the provision of Section 12 of the NCoS Act among others.
Speaking on the need for the media to give voice to the issues of prison reforms, she task all media houses to key into efforts of sector players as critical partners in national development
Representative of Legal Aid Nigeria Ibikunle Bamidele, urge journalist to always reach out to development partners and NGOs if the need factual information for their reports.
Deputy Director Public Prosecution of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yusuf Abdulkadir of the Federal noted that the federal government has continued to make improvements in the formulation of public policies and would continue to do so taking consideration of suggestions by stakeholders.
