LACoN tackles overcrowding in prisons, intervenes in 23 cases

The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN), led by Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar, has intensified efforts to address the persistent issue of overcrowding in correctional facilities across the country.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the council’s press officer, Amaka Agbaih, revealed that during a recent visit to the Old Keffi Custodial Centre, the council reviewed the cases of 23 awaiting-trial inmates who lacked legal representation.

Updates were also provided to existing clients on the status of their cases. Among those who attended to were 11 females and 12 males.

Highlighting the conditions of the female section of the centre, the statement noted that it houses 20 inmates, three of whom are serving sentences after conviction. Six have legal representation, while the remaining 11 are now set to benefit from the council’s intervention to secure access to justice.

The council emphasized one particularly distressing case involving a 25-year-old woman who gave birth while in custody after being arrested by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Her detention was linked to a theft case.

LACoN further disclosed that in another instance, a female inmate was released immediately upon meeting her bail conditions, enabling her to sit for her ICAN professional examination the following day.

The offences attributed to inmates ranged from armed robbery and culpable homicide to theft and public disturbances. Most detainees fall within the productive age bracket of 21 to 39 years, underscoring the broader societal cost of prolonged detention.

The council raised concerns about the pressing challenges of overcrowding and inadequate facilities at the Keffi Custodial Centre. Although construction work on a new storey building had commenced, it has since stalled, leaving female inmates without access to aftercare facilities for skill acquisition. Male inmates, by contrast, have access to open spaces for vocational training in tailoring, barbing, shoemaking, and carpentry.

During a meeting with LACoN’s Head of Decongestion Unit, Oliver Chukwuma, and the Assistant Controller of Corrections, B.C. Ofegbu, the latter lamented the growing number of awaiting-trial inmates, inadequate resources, and the health issues often faced by detainees brought in by SARS.

She commended the contributions of non-governmental organizations but stressed the urgent need for further support.

In response, Chukwuma reaffirmed the council’s dedication to decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring justice for marginalized populations. Despite limited resources, he stressed the resolve of LACoN’s Director-General to maintain regular monthly visits to custodial centres nationwide.

The Legal Aid Council reiterated its commitment to upholding justice and advocating for improved conditions within Nigeria’s correctional facilities, expressing hope for a future where crime rates are reduced, and the pressures on custodial centres are significantly eased.