Former NBA National Asst. Secretary, Ewenode .O. Williams, said it was gladdening to Lawyers and the members of the Human Rights Community when the news to audit detention facilities was announced.
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Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),Tony Ojukwu (SAN), on Monday, commenced the audit of places of detention across the country.
Tony Ojukwu (SAN), from the Reports, said the Commission’s aim as stated by its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, was for the purposes of ensuring that practices in detention facilities across the Country conform to human rights standards.
“To demonstrate its seriousness, the flag off took place during the Police Station Visitors Week (PSVW) at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja.
Ewenode on Wednesday, said “Though I concede that this is not the first time ‘Audit’ of detention facilities are carried out, I think that this initiative is both timely as we approach the next general elections in 2023 and the need to shore up the Country’s image before the International Community.
“The need to regularly Audit the various detention facilities across the Country cannot be over emphasized bearing in mind the deteriorating state of these facilities.
“Although the Commission has started the Audit with the Police, it is highly suggested that other detention facilities managed by the various Military and Para- Military Bodies should not be left out in this exercise.
“It is a notorious fact that many detention facilities across the Country have become “dangerous centers” with no iota of the slightest regards for human rights of the inmates. Because of the horrendous abuse of the rights of the inmates in some cases, the inmates have turned out to become emotional wrecks and in some cases, hardened criminals. Some suspects have become useless to themselves and the Society.
“There are also the reports of sexual harassments, assaults, sexual abuse, rape and inhuman and degrading treatments meted on suspects/inmates by the Officers of some of these detention facilities.
“There has also been the reported cases of bullying, intimidations, coercions and some time, the use of barbaric means in obtaining information by some Officers.
“Torture and other oppressive conducts on Suspects/Inmates by Officers of detention facilities have been deprecated and effectively dealt with in various provisions of the Law including Section 29 of the Evidence Act, 2011.
“Another worrisome challenge is the horrendous odour oozing from many detention facilities. Suspects/Inmates sleep, wake, stand and even eat under these horrible conditions.
“Though the challenges with our detention facilities are legion, it is my expectation that the NHRC will make good its promise of publishing the outcome of these Audit so that the “guilty” Bodies will be named and shamed so we can attempt a gradual departure from the bad to better detention facilities in all ramifications.”
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