The Director of Prisons, Legal Aids Council, Olise Chukwuma, has reiterated the council’s commitment to providing legal representation for inmates lacking representation, in a bid to ensure that justice was served.
Chukwuma made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja during the second public hearing on alleged corruption and other violations of the law against Nigeria Correctional Service by the Independent Investigative Panel.
He said the council partners with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and non-governmental organizations like Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) to achieve the mandate.
This, he said, was geared towards promoting access to justice for all.
He expressed hope that the forthcoming Correctional Information Management System would enhance the council’s ability to retrieve details of inmates requiring legal representation.
“This will help in facilitating the provision of timely and effective legal aid,” he said.
Chukwuma noted that the council’s efforts would also help reduce overcrowding in prisons, address corruption within the correctional system, and ensure that the rights of inmates were protected.
He decried the issue of underage inmates and wrongful incarceration, stressing that the police must take responsibility for their mistakes, which often lead to the incarceration of innocent persons.
The director appealed for support from stakeholders, announcing that the Legal Aid Council would participate in the panel discussion to explore ways of improving access to justice for inmates.
Speaking, Mr Ibrahim Sesay, the Chief of Child Protection,UNICEF, Nigeria, commended the Minister of Interior for his accountability in reforming the correctional service.
Sesay outlined five key elements for consideration, including commitment to transparency and justice, solving community problems, accountability, protecting whistleblowers and institutional reforms.
“This is welcoming news and UNICEF is really looking forward to a very fair, transparent and accountable hearing, “he said.
The UNICEF chief emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, even for those accused of wrongdoing.
He called for the protection of whistleblowers and the implementation of institutional reforms to create a corrupt-free system.
Also, the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, lauded the ministry for its transparency in probing allegations of corruption and human rights abuses in the NCoS.
Osigwe emphasised the need for the correctional service to prioritise rehabilitation and respect for human rights, adding that incarcerated persons were vulnerable members of society who deserved to be treated with dignity.
“The correctional service is not just about keeping people in prison, but also about rehabilitating them and preparing them for reintegration into society.
“This is because the persons who are incarcerated are more vulnerable than the society and the society has a duty to ensure that justice is done to them.
“There is a need to show compassion to them, and also ensure that they are treated with the highest level of human dignity.
“And so, it is the measure of the accountability of the correctional system and the Ministry of Interior that when these allegations were made, as a show of openness, the Ministry took it seriously.
“We commend the ministry for taking this bold step, and we pledge our support and cooperation to ensure that the truth is uncovered and justice is served,” Osigwe said.
The NBA president expressed hope that the public hearings would uncover the truth and ensure justice for those affected, adding that the NBA would support and cooperate with the investigative body.
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