HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE NIGERIAN PRISON SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF NIGER STATE PRISON

Thesis Overview

<p> </p><div><p><strong>1.1</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>BACKGROUND</strong>&nbsp;<strong>OF</strong>&nbsp;<strong>THE</strong>&nbsp;<strong>S</strong><strong>TUDY</strong></p><p>The Prison system is one of the key components of Criminal Justice Administration as it the</p><p>correctional institution where prisoners and convicts are kept after undergoing the processes of</p><p>police investigation and trial by a court of law. The prison is responsible for the custody of the</p><p>convicts and other inmates. The prison system entails putting in place measures to prevent</p><p>escapes, such as erecting high walls or chain-link fence, placing armed guards, constant checks</p><p>of cells, providing system of passes for movements with the prison, constant surveillance, and</p><p>other measures to prevent escapes, riots, and so on1.</p><p>The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (as amended) vests in the Federal</p><p>Government the control and administration of prisons2. This power is generally exercisable by</p><p>statutory instrument of the National Assembly. However, the Prisons Act and subsidiary</p><p>legislations vests in the President of Nigeria power over the control, administration, security</p><p>and welfare of prisoners.</p><p>Section 15 (a) of the Prisons Act provides that the President may wave regulations with respect</p><p>to the organization and administration of prison. However, the Nigerian Prisons Legislation</p><p>and Practice are generally perceived to be „anti – prisoner‟. They tend to completely take away</p><p>all rights and self respect of prisoners. This is unlike the general prison practice and legislation</p><p>in the advanced Nations. For instance in the United Kingdom, Rule 10 of the Prison Rules</p><p>1 Dambazau, A.B (2007). Criminology and Criminal Jusitice. Spectrum Books Ltd, Ibadan, p.197.</p><p>2 Item No.48 of The Exclusive Legislative List of the Second Schedule to the Constitution; A – G., Abia State V. A.G – Federation, (2002) 6 NWLR p.763, p.264, at pp.385 – 386.</p><p>1</p></div><div><p>(1999) S1 1999/78 provides that every prisoner must be provided as soon as possible after his</p><p>inception into prison and in any case within 24 hours, with information in writing about those</p><p>provisions of the Prison Rules and other matters which are necessary for him/her to know,</p><p>including his earnings, privileges and the proper method of making requests and complaints.</p><p>This is not so under the Nigerian Prison Legislation.</p><p>There is an ill-conceived notion that prison inmates have no rights within the general</p><p>population. Their rights may be limited; but they have a degree of human and civil rights that is</p><p>guar</p></div> <br><p></p>