40,000 Suspects in Prisons - Presidential Aide
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40,000 Suspects in Prisons - Presidential Aide
Luky Abamumi
http://allafrica.com/stories/200504120352.html
No fewer than 40,000 citizens and other nationals are
currently held in various prisons across the country over
allegations ranging from stealing, armed robbery to murder:
This was disclosed to newsmen yesterday in Lagos by
Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on
Prison Matters, Chief Tunde Adepo.
According to him, out of the numbers 250,000 are in t
he waiting trial list while 15,000 are serving various jail
terms in the 250 prisons, nationwide. Chief Adepo who
decride state of Prison said that they are dilapidated
and need facility to enable them serve their reformatory
roles as obtained in other parts of the world. He said,
some prisons are older than the country itself.
"The prisons are old, dilapidated and worn out. It does
not reflect on the image of the country, the prisons are
built even before our independence".
Also, while briefing the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwan Akwu
during a country visit to his palace, said over 3000 people
are languishing in Lagos prisons alone even as over 80
percent of inmates are indigenes of the state.
According to him, Ikoyi Prison which was built to accommodate only 800 inmates is
currently housing over 2000.
He noted that unless effort were made, by government, the prison services will loose
its role of reforming criminal, adding that efforts should be geared to decongest
prisons so as to save lives of inmates.
Adepo noted that with the aid of state governments, prisons could be expanded to save
inmates from contagious and other airborne diseases.
Responding, the Oba urged Adapo to impress on President Obasanjo to release Lagos
State fund to enable the administration perform its duties. The office of Lagos State
Chief Judge, Mr. Ade Alabi urged the court to expedite trials of inmates so as to
decongest prisons.
The state Chief judge responded by asking the government to provide more vehicles to
enable transport of inmates to court.
He said lack of vehicle to bring inmates had hindered trial.
Blaming the police for arresting all manner of people, even for minor offences and
detaining them, Alabi said the merit of the cases should be taken into cognisance
before detention.
"I frown at arresting people that disobeyed sanitation laws or other sundry issues
and clamping them in detention".
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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all COck-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.
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"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive
Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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