However, given that such directives had been given many times in the past without commensurate result, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola should not rely on the mere strength of the directive, else it will be another rhetorical exercise. Decongesting the prisons, and reforming that aspect of criminal justice system requires more than renaming prisons as correctional centres.
The minister is enthusiastic in his directive, but it should be matched with appropriate action. The country’s criminal justice system cannot claim to have a pass mark when almost half of the detainees in the various correctional centres are victims of maltreatment and miscarriage of justice.
A visit to one of the correctional centres in Lagos, typically throws up oddities that assault the eyes. A typical correctional centre built during colonial times, is highly dilapidated. Out of the 3,012 prisoners sheltered in the correctional centre, only 163 had been convicted by court; 285 awaiting trial inmates had been charged to court, while the rest have been languishing in the centre without trial and without bail.
Therefore, Nigeria’s appalling criminal justice system is overdue for reform. For 40 years or even more, the country has been living on the empty promise of the government that it is committed to reform the prisons and revamp the criminal justice system. Successive governments and Attorneys-General have made stronger commitments in this direction, only to woefully fail to do anything afterwards. Monies being budgeted for prison reforms and the welfare of prisoners are hardly accounted for.
Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)
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