The Nigeria Correctional Service has adduced reasons the use of wheelchairs is not allowed among inmates at correctional centres, citing safety concerns.

Superintendent of Corrections, SC Fredrick Chukwu, in charge of Records, Umuahia Correctional Centre, Abia State, gave the reason while responding to a question at the high-level stakeholders? meeting on the Abia Criminal Justice Law ACJL 2017 in Umuahia.

According to him, the prohibition of metallic objects inside correctional facilities is to avoid inmates converting them to weapons in the event of any quarrel.

?So, we don?t allow the use of metallic objects in the cell because in the case of confrontation among inmates, and one uses wheelchair or clutches to hit another inmate , before you know it, an inquest will be sent to us, and we start answering questions.

?We however, don?t leave Persons with disabilities in our custody without assistance. In fact, PWDs and women in our custodial centres receive special attention. We try as much as possible to offer the needed assistance to PWDs and the vulnerable,? he said.

Chukwu, pleaded with the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, to ensure that procedures on inmates are accompanied with production warrant to avoid prison decongestion.

?Sometimes when our inmates receive information and procedure to a high court without production warrant, they will remain hanging because we can?t take them to any court without the warrant,? he noted.

He equally noted that the running of morning and afternoon court sessions due to lack of sufficient court rooms, is adding to the burden of NCS officers.

?Some magistrates now sit in the afternoon and this is affecting our expensis because we take inmates to court in morning and afternoon. There are no court cells to keep them,? he added.

He said that NSC needed more operational vehicles to convey inmates to court.

?We need assistance for mobility. We have 54 courts in Abia and we have seven operational vehicles, and only four are functional. So, we need more operational vehicles to produce inmates in court when needed.?

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Chibuzo Ehiemere, said some remarkable progress had been recorded since the enactment of the ACJL law in 2017,

She called for more commitment and collaboration among the critical stakeholders especially the security agencies and judicial officers.

?No matter how good a law, without cooperation among the critical stakeholders, the aim will be defeated. So, we should stop working as individuals but as group if we must meet the goal,? she said.

Responding to an inquiry, the Permanent Secretary hinted that Abia State Government ?is having conversations around establishing a juvenile correctional facility? for underage inmates.

Speaking at the event, Abia Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Agbai, represented by Justice Agwu Umah Kalu, said ?everything we are working at is how to decongest the prisons?.

He commended the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA; the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme ROLAC and the European Union, for their efforts to facilitate access to justice in Abia.

Earlier in her opening speech, the Executive Director of CTA, Faith Nwadishi, said that ?efficient and equitable administration of criminal justice is central to upholding fundamental human rights and ensuring that the justice system is responsive to the needs of the people it serves.?

According to her, the primary goal of the ACJL is to speed up trial processes, improve case management and protect society from crime.

She harped on the need for more humane and right-centrerd approach to criminal justice and ultimately improve citizens? trust in the administration of criminal justice processes and institutions.

Reacting to the confiscation of wheelchairs and clutches from PWDs in correctional facilities, the CTA boss called for immediate intervention of the relevant agencies to ensure that PWDs are not robbed of their fundamental human rights.

She challenged the Disability Commission to take up the matter to ensure PWDs in correctional facilities get justice.

While commending the Abia State Ministry of Justice for its cooperations for the event, she enjoined participants at the event to brainstorm and proffer solution to the challenges encountered in the implementation of the ACJL.

She noted that CTA is dedicated to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing access to justice in Nigeria through transparency, accountability and community empowerment.

Speaking at the event, a representative of the Civil Defense Corps, Okorie Chinoso Emmanuel, called for the establishment of special courts for special cases such as juvenile court to help speed up trial processes.

He also advocated periodic review of strategies by security agencies and other stakeholders in criminal justice administration for better results.

One of the participants, and the traditional ruler of Eluoma Uzuakoli Autonomous community, HRH Eze Okorie Chijioke, urged the judiciary to compel the state to obey court orders.

? Courts should compel the state to obey its orders,? he said.

Highlighting some of the provisions of the ACJL, the facilitator of the meeting and a legal practitioner, Chiemezielam Kelechi Oluoha -Steve, said arrest of relations in lieu of a suspect, was prohibited.

She equally said that the ACJL prohibited extracting confessional statements from suspects in the absence of his lawyer and without a video recording.

Participants at the high-level stakeholders?meeting included security personnel, judicial officers, civil society groups, lawyers, traditional rulers, among others. (Vanguard)

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