Hope Behind Bars Africa Secures Release Of 5 Indigent Young Men In Edo

A Non-Governmental Organsation under the aegis Hope Behind Bars Africa has secured the release of T Five indigent young men awaiting trial. The young men were part of those released from Oko prison, Benin-city, Edo state.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Executive Director of the organization, Funke Adeoye.

A total of 13 inmates benefited from the exercise with 5 of them been indigent clients of Hope behind Bars Africa, a non profit organisatio  which  envisions the emergence of a humane and secure correctional system where justice is easily accessible to indigents and people who find themselves behind bars are corrected and empowered to prevent re-offending.

The organisation had earlier engaged the authorities via a press statement issued on 1st April, 2020 where they urged the presidency and all stakeholders on the emergent need to decongest correctional facilities by releasing low risk inmates to as one of the major ways to prevent a COVID 19 pandemic in the correctional center.

TheNigerialawyer recalls that on the 9th of April, the President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari released a total of 2600 deserving inmates using his power of prerogative of mercy. Several other states have followed suit with the most recent being Edo state with its ongoing exercise.

As a follow up, Hope Behind Bars Africa engaged the office of the Chief Judge and while at the exercise further made a case for its clients.

Speaking via a phone conversation, Mr Emmanuel Okorie the state coordinator  expressed joy at the release of his clients who he described as young people who were only trying to make ends meet.

According to him, all 5 inmates had spent more time awaiting trial than the time they would have spent if they had been convicted for the offense for which they were charged. Four of them were charged for wandering and breach of peace which carries a penalty of 1 month. However they had been in prison since February.

Speaking to the Executive Director, Funke Adeoye she expressed delight at the government’s promptness in decongesting the prison but emphasized that actions must also be put in place to ensure proper reintergration of everyone released.

In her words,

“At Hope behind Bars Africa, we begin preparing our beneficiaries for life after prison as soon as we take up their cases irrespective of the possibility that they may or may not be convicted. This is to prevent recidivism. For the inmates released yesterday, we supported them with funds for their logistics and would be in touch with them on their plans going forward. We also have psychologists who follow up on their mental and emotional health. Some of our beneficiaries have gone on to get jobs while some currently volunteer with us.

“We further urge the government and all stakeholders to work on implementing the non-custodial aspects of the ACJA and the Nigerian Correctional Service act as this would go a long way to curb prison congestion in the long run,” she added.

The Honorable Justice Esther Edison commended the NGOs for partnering with the states to ensure the decongestion was successful.

TheNigerialawyer(TNL)  also recalls that the  Edo State Government commenced its prison decongestion exercise on 27th April 2020 at Oko Prison Benin city Edo state. During the process, the  Chief Judge gave organizations who had written   to her office the opportunity  to present their cases. In attendance a  few organizations including NBA, Legal AID, ROLAC and Hope Behind Bars Africa.