The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai, embarked on a 17-day tour of the correctional centres in the oil-rich state. Correspondents OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE (Asaba) and ELO EDREMODA (Warri), who were on the trips, captured the state of the centres.
Congestion, dilapidated buildings, dirty cells and a stuttering reformational education system. This is the story of Correctional Centres in Delta State.
The situation was starkly exposed during a 17-day tour by the Chief Judge, Justice Tessy Diai.
She completed the second quarter official visit to the five custodial centres of Warri, Sapele, Kwale, Agbor and Ogwashi-Uku in the state, during which she reviewed the status of 1,298 inmates.
Findings by our correspondents showed the dire conditions endured by inmates serving jail terms in the correctional centres.
The collapse of a section of the Agbor correctional centre perimeter wall following a torrential downpour in 2022, is a poignant reminder of the deplorable state of correctional centres in the state.
Documents by correction officials made available to The Nation revealed a 100 per cent congestion rate in the correctional centres.
Agbor Correctional Centre has 293 inmates with an installed capacity of 173, while at Ogwashi-Uku, there are 605 of them, with an installed capacity of 400.
Kwale locks 262 but with an installed capacity of 150.
Training of inmates in the Kwale correctional centre, consisting of a ramshackled workshop crammed with obsolete machinery, ranging from sewing machines, dusty tables, rusty carpentry, and plumbing tools, is rudimentary. It is doubtful any practical training occurs there.
Ogwashi-Uku Medium Correctional Centre, though the most recently built of all the correctional centres, having been built in the 1980s, has become decrepit. With peeling plaster hanging dangerously overhead and walls that have not had a fresh coat of paint in ages, the medium correctional centre cuts a picture of neglect.
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Aside from the deplorable state of the buildings, a severe case of erosion ravages the centre forcing officials to resort to piling sandbags at strategic locations to prevent further damage to the foundations of the facility.
Burden of overcrowding
Judging from the low figures of inmates released in the just concluded quarter, the burden of overcrowding in the state’s correction al centres, is set to continue.
Of the over 1000 warrants reviewed by Justice Diai during the visit, only four inmates were discharged.
But despite having 1,298 inmates awaiting trial, Justice T. Diai in her remarks at Ogwashi-Uku Medium Correctional Centre, praised the effort of the judiciary in reducing congestion, which she said was achieved through “its diversifying the trial of criminal cases”.
Her words: “ I believe we are seeing the results of diversifying the trial of criminal cases. Every court tries (inmates), so even if they bring inmates once a week for the four or five courts in the jurisdiction. That’s the beauty of it.
“I told you earlier of the time preparing this list and the actual dates some inmates would have been discharged, released on bail etc.
“Out of a total number of 514 on the list, we have reviewed 389. The number of warrants in the five centres came up to 1,298 awaiting trial inmates. I would not say that this is the best but I think everyone is trying.”
With the high numbers of inmates in the five custodial centres in the state, the call for an efficient judiciary that prioritises speedy dispensation of justice appears justified.
While decrying the plight of the inmates in correctional centres in the state, a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, described conditions as “appalling”, and urged the government to improve inmate’s living conditions, especially those awaiting trial.
According to him, the reformatory objective of the correctional system is lost because of a near absence of adequate educational amenities.
According to the source, overcrowding with its health implications is a major issue.
The source said: “A space for two persons is routinely crammed by over fifty inmates with one open toilet and a bathroom that has no functioning septic tank.”
He maintained that some inmates spend an unconscionably long time awaiting trial waiting for justice.
He blamed the Nigeria Police for a lack of diligence, noting that some inmates may be innocent of the crime they allegedly committed.
On the condition of convicted inmates, the source commended the authorities for improved living conditions for this class of inmates but lamented the lack of bedding and other necessary items.
Poor health facilities
On the condition of prison clinics, he added that only basic medical facilities, adding that with non-availability of medicines or medical personnel on the ground, inmates face dire conditions when they fall ill.
The Nation gathered that only one medical doctor attends all custodial centres in the state.
It was further gathered feeding rations are poor and lacking in adequate nutritional value.
Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Mr Emmanuel Kanikwu in an interview in Ogwashi-Uku, said the facility operates a small farm within the premises to encourage inmates to learn farming skills to enable them to “go back home and have something doing”.
He said the facility has a functional workshop where inmates learn tailoring, barbing saloons, laundry services etc.
On the alleged outbreak of skin infections, Kanikwu said the cases of skin infections were fresh inmates who had stayed long in police custody.
He said the medical unit was on top of the situation.
His words: “We don’t have any infection. If you see anyone suffering from skin infections, it is those who came in recently and stayed too long in police custody.
“They came with such disease. We are doing our best, our medical unit will ensure the situation is brought under control.”
307-capacity Warri centre holds 947
In Delta’s commercial hub sits the Nigeria Custodial Centre, Warri, the biggest in the state, where suspects and offenders are held.
On approaching the facility which is located along Okere Road, one meets armed mobile policemen who man the entrance and also keep 24/7 surveillance of the area for any untoward movements.
They admit visitors to the main entrance where the prison wardens get the necessary details for onward match to the appropriate quarters.
Though neat, the reception lacked modern features. Made one wonder what the cells were like. The 307-capacity facility now shelters over triple that figure, 947 inmates.
Deputy Controller of Corrections in Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Warri, Edo Joseph Lucky, said apart from battling congestion, there were no qualms with the welfare of the inmates. He emphasised that the welfare of the inmates was “okay,” when this reporter visited him on Thursday, July 11.
“Okere Custodial Centre is okay. There is no welfare challenge, the government is taking care of them. But we have a little congestion. Currently, we have 947 inmates,” he said.
Asked if the government is aware of the need to decongest the place, he responded in the affirmative.
“Government is aware of the congestion,” he stated, pointing out that it was one of the purposes of the recent visit of the Chief Judge, Her Lordship, Tessy Diai, on Monday, July 1.
Noting that granting amnesty to those who qualify, helps decongestion from time to time, he urged that where possible, non-custodial sentences be slammed on offenders to help decongest custodial centres.
“We have non-custodial sentences, they can do community services, probation others, those can help to decongest the correctional centre.
“We are praying the court to give accelerated hearing so that the cases can be heard in time and the custodial centre can be decongested.”
Freedom for four
Four inmates breathed an air of freedom during the Chief Judge’s quarterly visit, part of which was to review cases.
Jeremiah Okotiebor and Odotimade Lylon, both casemates, were being charged for murder, Umaru Abubakar was in for stealing, while Peter Okru was in custody for defaulting in a financial agreement.
Okotiebor recounting his arrest in pidgin, said: “While in the creeks, someone was killed and the town people held me for the murder.”
Another freed inmate, Peter Okru said he was a civil matter over failure to hold his end of a financial agreement.
“They fined me N9 million at the Court which I agreed to pay them. I had started paying; just a month that I couldn’t meet up, it was not even the end of the month yet, they brought me here.”
The CJ, who made a similar visit to the Nigerian Custodial Centre, Sapele, explained that as it happened, her visits to the custodial centres were not to discharge cases, but to ensure that they were ongoing in court.
“As you can see, no one was released, no one was granted bail. All the cases or most of the cases are in court and that is what we want. Not that they should be left in custody here, or police custody.
“At least, if they go to court, they have a chance of making their cases or asking for bail. I am happy that that is the position.
“It does not mean that every time one comes here, one has to be discharged. We want to make sure that the cases are going on. I thank you all for your support,” Diai stated.
At the end of the exercise in Sapele, a total of 174 cases were reviewed.
Meanwhile, the 947 inmates at the correctional facility in Warri, are either being tried or have been convicted for offences ranging from “minor stealing, murder, breaking and entry, burglary to armed robbery”.
The figures
According to the statistics presented by the custodial centre boss, the cases of 390 are yet to be determined, 277 are on death row, while the remaining 280 were long and short-term convicts.
The Warri custodial centre is an approved centre for the National Examination Council (NECO). This development which was achieved through the Delta State Government, no doubt serves as a beacon of hope for inmates aspiring to Senior Secondary Certificate qualification.
Edo disclosed that a primary and secondary school were being operated within the walls of the ‘Okere High College,’ a popular name the facility is called by locals.
He revealed that 19 inmates within the ages of 18 to 60, were candidates for the ongoing NECO. This number is again seven to nine that usually sit for the exam. He also disclosed that nine inmates had in May, written the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination.
Asked about the performances of the inmates in these external examinations, he stated that over the years, the facility has been recording “good performances”.
He explained that volunteers from public schools, non-governmental organisations (NGO), staff of the correctional centre, as well as inmates with some academic knowledge do offer tutorial services to the inmates.
Those who pass the examinations would not only have their certificates, but the feat would form part of their assessment of good conduct. “Government may deem it fit to use it as part of their amnesty if they are qualified, it would be a requisite,” Edo stated.
Apart from gaining academic qualifications, the inmates also acquire carpentry, welding, tailoring and electrical skills under supervisors.
“We have carpentry, tailoring welding and electrical workshops. At the carpentry workshop, they make chairs and upholstery. When we have issues with our water tanks and cars, they weld them. Outsiders do bring jobs too.”
