NEW : NGO wants Chief Judge to visit the prisons

A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Centre for Justice, Mercy and Reconciliation, has appealed to chief judges in states to visit prisons on quarterly basis to reduce prison congestion. The organisation’s President, Mr Hezekiah Olujobi, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday. NAN reports that the NGO is engaged in advocacy for ex-convicts in order to reintegrate them back into the society. Olujobi said that the Chief Justice of Nigeria should mandate the judges to visit prisons on quarterly basis in order to fast track the release of inmates. “They should visit prisons and determine those whose detention is manifestly unlawful. “ They should also determine those who have been incarcerated for longer periods than they would have stayed if convicted for the alleged offence for which they were detained. “Whenever chief judges visit prisons, they don’t usually visit those who are charged with criminal offences. “ It is, however, clear that not all those charged with criminal offences really committed a crime,” he said. He cited indiscriminate arrests, unnecessary litigation as well as unending adjournments as causes of prison congestion. Olujobi said a research study carried out indicated that the adverse conditions in prison environment have a negative effect on ex- convicts. “There is need for government at all levels and the judiciary to put in place well equipped rehabilitation centres for ex-convicts. “ High Court judges should also give criminal cases before them priority by identifying the bottlenecks in each case and bringing them to a logical conclusion,’’ Olujobi said. (NAN)