THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 2005 - UNDP Nigeria ...

SOKOTO CENTRAL PRISONIntroductionThe British Colonial Government built the Sokoto Central Prison in 1908. The capacity of the prison is576. As at 10/11/2006, the lock up was 488 with staff strength of 98 regular staff and 97 on attachment.The number awaiting trial was 283 while convicted persons were 205. The building was in deplorablecondition. It was discovered that the last renovation took place in 1999 and a part of the building in themale section had collapsed.FeedingThe kitchen is roofed with zinc and it has a dwarf wall at the front. The floor of the Kitchen is filled withmud and cobwebs lined the roof. Flies were seen perched on uncovered food on the dirty kitchen floor.The inmates under unhygienic conditions prepared the food.BeddingsThe beddings in the female cells were adequate. 150 new mattresses and blankets were donated by aphilanthropist to the female inmates in 2005. Some of the mattresses have been taken to the malesection. The male inmates’ beddings were in deplorable condition as the mattresses were very soft andtattered.Health Care FacilitiesThere is a clinic in the prison with a doctor. He complained that the drugs in stock were insufficient tomeet the needs of the inmates. Most of the drugs in stock were not relevant for the common ailments inthe prison, like diarrhea, malaria and scabies. The clinic had no facilities to take care of inmates withpsychiatric problems. At the time of visit, there were 11 patients in the clinic receiving treatment. Aphilanthropist donated 36 sets of HIV related drugs to the prison for the treatment of inmates living withHIV/AIDS. 30 inmates were isolated from other inmates as they were infected with tuberculosis. Threeinmates had psychiatric problems.Recreational FacilitiesThe prison had no recreational facilities.Vocational TrainingThe convicted inmates were being trained in tailoring, carpentry and welding in order to facilitate theirreintegration into the society after serving their terms. Philanthropists donated these facilities.CHILDREN AND WOMENAs at 10/11/2006, there were no children or pregnant women in the prison.AWAITING TRIAL INMATESThere were 283 awaiting trial inmates in Sokoto Central Prison as at 10 th of November 2006. Of thisnumber, 3 were female while 280 were male. The female cell has 3 inmates who had been awaiting trialfor more than one year.Marliya Idris, female, aged 42, was charged for culpable homicide punishable with death by ChiefMagistrate’s Court 2 Sokoto. She has been awaiting trial for over one year.Aljuma Hassan,female, aged 50, was charged with the offence of culpable homicide after killing herhusband. She was granted bail but this was revoked by the High Court for her failure to attend court on27