Suleja jail break: Coalition seeks full implementation of NCoS Act

.Says 72.16% inmates awaiting trial

Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, (CSOs), have called for the full implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS), Act 2019, to guard against incidences of jail breaks, overcrowding and challenges faced by the criminal justice.

The coalition made up of the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, (PRAWA), Hope Behind Bars and the National Civil Society Forum on Detention and Corrections, (NCSFDC), said that the recent destruction of infrastructure and subsequent escape of inmates underscore the urgent need for enhanced security measures and modernization of the nation’s correctional system.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, Founder and Executive Director, PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, said that the number of awaiting trial inmates far exceeds the number of those already convicted in the country.

According to her, “Despite provisions of section 2 subsection 1 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 which designates the correctional service facilities as rehabilitation and reformation facilities for individuals who have been found in conflict with the law, the number of Awaiting Trial Persons, (ATP), far exceeds the number of convicted inmates.”

This situation she said, has led to congestion in the custodial centres and has hindered the implementation of rehabilitation programmes.

“As at May 11th 2020, reliable data provided by the NCoS shows that total inmates in the country stands at 66, 102 with awaiting trial inmates constituting 72 per cent of this population while convicted persons including the condemned, represent only 27.84 per cent.

“The criminal justice system in Nigeria faces significant challenges contributing to the prolonged detention of inmates and exercerbatin overcrowding in correctional facilities,” she said.

Dr. Agomoh pointed that the lack of effective risk assessment has made it difficult to properly manage the the various classes of inmates this addressing heir specific needs.

She notes that overcrowding remains a pervasive issue overwhelming the centres and compromising security and rehabilitation efforts.

Listing factors affecting management of custodial facilities in Nigeria she saidlack of full implementation of non custodial measures and non compliance with international standards must be looked into.

She further recommended prioritization and full implementation of the NCoS Act and training for Correctional staff among others

Highlighting benefits of digitisation of court case management and non custodial measures implementation, Senior Manager, Access to Justice Public and Private Development Centre, (PPDC), said there are offences that can be handled without individuals going to jail or being kept in custody.

“Court administration and case management will go along way in reducing the rate of pretrial detentions. Sometimes individuals are detained because they can’t find their files or the judge has travelled and the files can’t be accessed or done other reasons.

“Digitization of the entire court administration and case management process makes it easy to access case files for attention wherever you are and these cases can be seen in real time in any part of the world even while in some other engagement. This will help reduce overcrowding of our facilities,” he said.