The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Olympus Marino Deck, Port Harcourt, has called on the federal government to reform Nigeria’s criminal justice administration system, describing it as unfair and detrimental to the nation’s integrity.
Speaking during a humanitarian visit to the Maximum Correctional Facility in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, a former Capoon of the Deck, Mr. Ken Henshaw, lamented that more than 70 per cent of inmates in the facility were awaiting trial and had remained in detention longer than necessary.
He noted that many detainees had overstayed beyond the maximum sentence for the offences they were accused of, describing the situation as a serious flaw in the justice system.
“It is terrible that we are here and everybody is going about their business, getting married, having children, and 70 per cent of people, out of 3,000 people, are innocent of any crime. It’s a very bad system. It’s a poor system,” Henshaw said.
He added that some inmates had spent years in detention awaiting trial, even when the maximum sentence for the alleged offences was far less.
“When they are accused of a crime with a maximum sentence of three years, they have been here for eight years awaiting trial. It’s an unfair system, and no society can lay claim to modernity or civilisation if we let things like this happen,” he stated.
Henshaw also raised concerns about the poor condition of the facility, citing lack of electricity, inadequate healthcare services, and obsolete infrastructure.
“How can people live without electricity? The government needs to address the state of the prisons. The people who are here are human beings. They need healthcare. We’ve been to the pharmacy and the lab; there’s absolutely nothing,” he said.
He called for increased budgetary allocation to correctional facilities and, more importantly, effective disbursement of funds to address inmates’ welfare and infrastructure deficits.
“My call to the government is that we need to reform our administration of criminal justice system in Nigeria. Any system that allows people who committed no crime and are awaiting trial to be in detention for years is deeply flawed,” he added.
Also speaking, the current Capoon of Olympus Marino Deck, Ilochi Nnamdi, said the visit formed part of activities marking NAS F18 Day, which commemorates the illegal incarceration of its members on February 18, 1997, by the then military government.
“This commemoration serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made in defence of civil liberties and democratic principles, and as a renewed commitment to justice, accountability and human dignity,” Nnamdi said.
He disclosed that during the visit, the association donated medical supplies, clothing, consumables, and other essential items to inmates to improve their wellbeing and promote more humane living conditions.
Nnamdi added that the F18 Day activities would continue with a legal roundtable session involving legal practitioners and stakeholders to examine issues surrounding incarceration, inmates’ rights, access to legal representation, and sustained reforms within Nigeria’s correctional system.
Chairman of the Deck’s Social Advocacy Committee, Emery Okwapam, said the group had over the years facilitated the release of more than 100 inmates who were unable to pay fines or meet bail conditions.
“We seek to collaborate with correctional authorities and explore opportunities to improve the welfare of inmates,” he said.
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
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