Lawyers Explain Prison Congestion

Some lawyers in Lagos State on Saturday blamed prison
congestion on inadequate prison facilities, inefficiency of judicial officers,
long adjournments and inability of defendants to meet bail conditions.

In interviews with our correspondent the lawyers also called
for the rehabilitation of inmates through skill acquisition and education, to
enable them to be self-reliant when released.

Mr. Ogedi Ogu regretted that many prisons had dilapidated
structures, were poorly equipped and inadequately funded.

“It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs to ensure that the prisons are well funded.

“Most of them were built when the population of this country
was not up to 70 million,” he said.

Ogu called for the building of more prisons and expansion of
existing ones to achieve decongestion.

He attributed the rising crime wave to unemployment.

“Population explosion breeds vices, especially in developing
countries like Nigeria, where there is a high rate of unemployment,” he said.

He, therefore, urged that prisons should be developed to
meet the needs of the society.

He also called for regularly sittings by judges, as well as
dismissal of unjustified applications for adjournment.

The lawyer also urged members of the public not to alienate
ex convicts but to reintegrate them into the society and encourage them to be
law abiding.

Another lawyer, Mr. Dipo Shotonwa, blamed prison congestion
on hiding of identities by suspected criminals.

“This makes it difficult for them to get help once they are
in custody,” he said.

Shotonwa also noted that tax evasion by many Nigerians made
it difficult for defendants to get sureties.

“Mixing fresh inmates with old ones makes them to be open to
more criminal acts.

“They should be engaged in positive activities and made to
learn one trade or the other,” he added.

Mr. Makolo Anthony, also a lawyer, blamed prison congestion
on alleged inefficiency by judicial officers, especially prosecutors who, he
said, should be regularly trained.

He urged amnesty by chief judges for inmates who had been
awaiting trial for long, as well as those convicted for minor offences.

The lawyer said that regular visits to prisons by chief
judges would encourage speedy justice delivery.

He appealed to non-governmental organisations and well
meaning Nigerian to be involved in the rehabilitation of prisoners for a better
society.