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

VISITORS’ BOOKSeveral visitors’ books were kept for the following categories of persons, namely;Very important visitors to the prison;Legal practitioners that came to interview their clients;Visitors that came in groups such as NGOs, religious organizations etc.The visitors’ books were generally well kept.AWAITING TRIAL INMATES (ATMS)1. The majority of the inmates at Enugu prison are awaiting trial mates. Five boys namely;i) Jude Ugwu, 15, Male, (iii) Osita Okoye, 15, Maleii) Ejike Ugwu, 14, Male (iv) Chinedu Nduneme, 17, Male andv) Ozuluigbo Nnabuike, 15, Male were admitted into Enugu Prison on 30/11/2001; and have beenawaiting trial for alleged armed robbery and rape of some reverend sisters for 5 years. Though the fiveof them were charged with the same offences, they met one another for the first time at Ogui PoliceStation Cell in Enugu. On an interview by the monitor, the following unconfirmed information wassupplied by the charge mates;Ugwu Jude stated that he was staying with his sister at Poultry Camp I and had gone to sweep theirstall at New Market when the police came and arrested him.Osita said that he came from his village on holidays to stay with his brother, Mr. Obiora Okoye at No. 26Achina Street, Achara Layout Enugu. The police came to the house and asked for the brother but thebrother traveled. They arrested Osita. when his brother came to the police station to ask for hisrelease, the police insisted that he would pay N50,000.00. When the brother failed to pay the sumdemanded, Osita and Jude were taken to new market Magistrate Court where they were for the firsttime told that they robbed a Rev. Sister.Ejike was arrested on his way back from Ogbette Main Market where he had gone to shop forfoodstuffs. He was arrested with the foodstuff and the police demanded N10,000 from his brother for hisbail. When he could not pay,he was taken to court and charged for robbery.Chinedu was arrested while he was washing clothes at mili­ana stream, Enugu. At the time of hisarrest, he was staying with his guardian, one Ifeanyi Ugwu who lived at P&T Quarters, Enugu.Ozuluigbo was arrested by the police around 10 a.m. at ogbette area of Enugu when he was playingfootball by the police. He was a trader on second­hand clothing at Ogbette with his brother. He did notgo to market that day because a member of their union died and all the members decided not to openshops in respect for their late colleague.ACCESS TO JUSTICEOne of the pressing problems of the prison is transportation of prisoners to and fro the courts. EnuguPrison has one Green Maria van that is grounded. As a result of this prisoners were not taken to thevarious courts in Enugu on their adjourned dates and thereby prolonging their trial and stay in prison.Their attendance to court most times were sponsored by their family members who provide vehicles ortransport to convey the prisoner, the warder guard and the police escort to court.39