The Call for a Nationwide Audit of Correctional Facilities
A non-governmental organisation, Zarephath Aid, has recently called for a comprehensive nationwide audit of correctional facilities across the country. The initiative aims to address the persistent issue of overcrowding in prisons and promote transparency within the justice system. By conducting such an audit, the organisation hopes to identify the number of inmates and the status of their cases, thereby ensuring that the legal process is fair and efficient.
The founder of Zarephath Aid, Mr. Ben Abraham, a legal practitioner, made this call during a press conference titled “The New Legal Year and the Lingering Justice Question,” which took place at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos. During the event, Abraham expressed concern over the continued overcrowding of correctional facilities, noting that many inmates have spent years awaiting trial despite various interventions by civil society groups and judicial measures.
Abraham urged all levels of the judiciary to collaborate with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee at the federal level and state Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committees. He emphasized the importance of proper oversight and timely resolution of cases. According to him, key provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and state laws require judicial officers to conduct monthly visits to detention facilities and law enforcement cells, followed by oversight reports to the Chief Judge and Attorney-General.
However, he pointed out that the oversight responsibility has been lacking in many states and at the federal level, leading to the continued illegal detention of persons and abuse of suspects’ rights. Abraham believes it is time for stakeholders in the justice sector to set clear expectations and performance benchmarks for the new legal year.
He highlighted that while new legal year ceremonies are often marked with speeches, many Nigerians in remote areas fail to relate to their significance because, to them, “justice is beyond long speeches.” They eagerly await the day when they can touch justice or, put differently, when justice can touch them. It is for these Nigerians that Zarephath Aid makes its call on courts and judiciary heads.
Addressing Police Brutality and Legal Challenges
In addition to calling for prison audits, Abraham condemned the rising cases of police brutality, torture, and extortion. He argued that the police’s internal disciplinary mechanisms have failed to curb this trend. If the courts do not take action to leash this errancy, another uprising could occur sooner than later.
He also criticized the shrinking civil space and the targeting of rights activists, critics, and journalists by the police, sometimes acting at the behest of the executive. Furthermore, Abraham criticized the Cybercrimes Act 2024, stating that it is being “inordinately applied to muzzle dissent and silence critics of the government.”
He noted that many of the charges under the Act are politically instigated. As long as the courts tolerate this interference and fail to defend citizens’ constitutional rights to free expression, the Act will remain a tool of harassment. Abraham urged the judiciary to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action in defending the rule of law and democracy.
“We respectfully invite the media to join us in setting this agenda for the judiciary and monitoring its performance over the next one year,” he added.
Collaboration and Digital Tools for Accountability
Zarephath Aid emphasized the need for digital tools to track case progress and improve accountability. The group believes that an audit of correctional centres would provide accurate data on the number of inmates, including those awaiting trial and those already convicted.
On his part, Zarephath Aid’s Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Ameh, called for collaboration among justice sector agencies. He also urged the Minister of Interior, Olubmi Tunji-Ojo, to extend his reform efforts to the correctional system.
Also speaking, the Gender Rights and Child Officer, Miss Kaylah Abraham, stressed the need to enforce the Child Rights Act and protect minors in detention. She called for expedited handling of children’s cases, stronger independent police oversight, and expanded access to legal aid for minors in conflict with the law.
