An Abuja-based Prisons and Human Rights Group, Uchefem Consult, says that the organisation has trained not less than 1,000 prison officials on human rights protection in the last two years.

The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr Uche Owete, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing five-day training organised for 30 police, prisons and judicial officers on the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJA) on Wednesday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Owete explained that the training was organised to effect serious and durable changes in the sector for the overall benefit of prison and justice systems.

He also said that the training was to bring together the police investigation and prosecution segment, the lower courts, particularly Magistrates, where the bulk of criminal cases are tried and the prisons where persons are held for a long time without trial.

“We developed the Human Rights training manual and Guide in 2015 for officials of Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS).

“We started the training in 2016 on human rights based on the manuals conducted for officials of NPS in all training institutions in Lagos, Enugu, Owerri, and Lagos and also the Prison Academy in Ijebu-Igbo.

“In 2017, same training was conducted at Zonal commands of NPS comprising of group of states such as Oyo, Rivers and Kaduna, among others.

“So far, almost 1,000 officials of NPS have benefited directly or indirectly from our training on human rights protection.

“Now in 2018, a combined training on the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJA) and Human Rights for 30 police, prisons and judiciary in order to avoid human rights violation,’’ he said.

Owete added that the training is expected to increase the cross-sectorial coordination, competences and capacities of major criminal justice actors to effect serious and durable changes in the sector for the overall benefit of the Nigerian Prison Service and the justice system.

“Assured of shared responsibilities by these actors with a view of changing justice landscape and reduce human rights violations.

“Ensure police observance of human rights standards during interrogation, detention and trial would be reduced drastically and high light the major innovations in criminal administration in Nigeria, among others objectives,” Owete said.

He commended the Swiss Government through its embassy in Nigeria for its support and funding for the training.

NAN reports that the training was organised with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). (NAN)

– Sept. 26, 2018 @ 14:05 GMT |