By INNOCENT ANABA

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has commenced audit of Prisons, Police and other detention centres in the South-South zone, with a commitment to forward appropriate and far reaching recommendations to the Federal Government for the improvement of the condition of prisons in the country.

Speaking at the flag off at Uyo prisons, Awka Ibom State, Executive Secretary NHRC, Professor Bem Angwe explained that the purpose of the exercise was to ensure the effective compliance with the minimum standard for the treatment of prisoners.

He said, ”the accommodation, food and facilities in prisons must be continuously improved towards achieving the minimum standards. We also have to ensure that inmates who are not suppose to be in prisons are not allowed to languish in jail.”

He expressed dismay over the detention of two nursing mothers awaiting trial in the prison on bailable offences, noting that the prison was not a place for babies.

He directed the State Coordinator of the NHRC’s office in Uyo, Mr. Tony Iji to facilitate their release on bail  to protect the rights of the children.

In his remark the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Ummaru Dahiru, who led members of the National Assembly to the ceremony observed that many of the inmates were in prison due to avoidable delays in legal processes and called on Chief Judges to pay regular visits to prisons to address such challenges.

He expressed the commitment of the Senate to support the prison reform process through appropriate legislation that will reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates in the prisons.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Inang expressed disgust over the large number of awaiting trial inmates in the prisons and charged the state’s Director of Public Prosecution, Mr C.J. Udo, who represented the Chief Judge on the occasion to take proactive measures to reverse the situation.

Senator Inang also restated the commitment of the Senate to appropriate adequate funds for infrastructural development of the prisons, which he said are in dire need of rehabilitation.

Uyo prisons, built in 1954 with a lock up capacity of 613 inmates, had 818 inmates at the commencement of the audit, 622 of which were awaiting trial.

Among the 27 inmates serving life sentences at least 2 have spent more than 25 years in prison.