Kuje awaiting trial inmates seek speedy arraignment

Over 500 out of the 760 inmates in remand custody at the Kuje prisons, Abuja have sought for speedy trial for them to know their fate.

Addressing a team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) who visited the prison, Dr. Sani Shuaibu, an inmate speaking on behalf of others, said most of the inmates had spent over 10 years’ incarceration yet they have not been tried.

Dr. Shuaibu said he had fulfilled all his bail conditions but that he was yet to be released and was still waiting for trial.

While commending the Prisons management, he said their rights have not been abused as they have been provided with basic facilities such as water, medical treatment, food amongst others.

Comptroller General of the Federal Capital Territory command of the Nigeria Prisons Service Yusuf Kasali, who represented the Comptroller General of Prison, Zakari Ibrahim, also confirmed that the trial process was indeed slow.

He called for the speedy trial of the inmates and convicted or freed where necessary.

Another inmate who has been convicted Mr. Sankara Ofem alleged that some lawyers have come to the prison and collected money from inmates promising to help them process their cases but they failed to fulfill their promises.

He appealed

to

the commission to buy industrial sewing machine for inmates to enable him train other inmates sewing skills to empower them and get them occupied.

Executive Secretary of the human rights commission Prof. Bem Angwe lamented that over 80 percent of inmates were still awaiting trial. He promised to invite members of the Nigerian Bar Association to attend to most of the cases awaiting trial.

He said the aim of the audit was to ensure that prisoners were still accorded their human rights even while in prison.

Angwe said the commission would begin to act adding that the inmates will get their industrial sewing machine as soon as possible.