Transform
Nigeria Citizens Initiative (TNCI) had expected alongside other
Nigerians that the relevant authorities would have begun a probe into
startling revelations by the Sun Newspaper of October 20, 2013
concerning illegal operations at Enugu Maximum Prison.
We
hereby request for the National Assembly to beam their searchlight on
the manner the prison authorities run the penal institution. Following
the Sun reports, our independent investigations reveal that inmates at
the Enugu Prisons truly undergo such inhuman ordeal in the hands of the
Prison officials as revealed in the newspaper.
We
are dismayed to learn that Enugu prison authorities which is funded by
the taxpayers still force prisoners to pay a N2,000 fee to transport
them from the prison to court for their trial; and if they fail to pay,
they miss court hearings leading to further adjournments.
We
also urge NASS to summon the prison authorities to explain why inmates
should pay between N100 to N150 for a bucket of water when such water is
freely provided from a borehole dug by the Federal Government for the
inmates.
Our laws provide
that an accused is deemed innocent until a relevant court of law rules
otherwise; it thus becomes gross human abuse in a prison where majority
of the inmates are awaiting trial, for officials to punish the inmates
by rationing the free water to a maximum of two to three cups of
drinking water daily while those who wanted more pay for it.
We
further urge the honourable members and senators to commence an urgent
investigation into reports that inmates pay N10, 000, N25, 000 or even
up to N200, 000 to be allocated cells depending on the quality of the
cell; a cell built by the government for the inmates.
We
reiterate that these allegations are not mere rumours but TNCI has
conducted independent investigations and can authoritatively say they
are true.
We are aware that the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, (DCP), Mustapha Attah reportedly said: “I provide the money for diesel for the tanker to bring water three times a day because the last time Water Board gave us water was five months ago?”
We ask; could the above claim be the reason why the prison boss sells the water to inmates?
Are
the payments by prisoners made to help the Deputy Comptroller in
recovering his expenditure? Were they his ‘personal funds’? Should an
employee of the Federal Republic of Nigeria use his personal money to
buy water daily for prisoners? Did the Enugu inmates contribute money to
re-paint the Enugu Maximum Prison during a top prison official’s visit?
Is it true that there is a task force set up by the Enugu Maximum
Prison authorities, who wore green shirts and serve as the eyes of the
Prison boss, to monitor all workers in the yard?
We
request that NASS summons the Comptroller of Prisons to answer these
queries. The Lawmakers should conduct an open hearing on the above
matters and make their findings public and compel the appropriate
executive organ of government to take necessary action on the matter
including appropriate sanctions.
Signed:
Daniel Elombah
For:
Transform Nigeria Citizen Initiative
On Transform Nigeria Citizens Initiative (TNCI)
Transform
Nigeria Citizens Initiative (aka Transform Nigeria Movement, TNM) is a
Non Profit Oorganisation whose vision is to develop that critical mass
of citizens who are not only aware of their civic rights but also
understand the need to fight for such rights and demand accountability
from the rulership.
All enquiries should be directed to Daniel Elombah
Email: Daniel@vlssolicitors.com
Phone: +442088087999
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