Imo Govt Determines to Decongest Correctional Centres

Imo State Government is seriously working to encourage the Decongestion of the Correctional Centres and Cells across the State.

This point was made yesterday by the Hon Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Imo State, Chief COC Akaolisa while playing host to an Advocacy Group- ‘CARA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION’, an Advocacy Group that advocates for the decongestion of Correctional Centres or Cells, especially during this time of COVID-19.

Chief Akaolisa revealed that to show how interested the State Government is in peoples’ liberty, the State Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma signed the criminal Justice Law which is very paramount now, few months in office.

The Hon Attorney-General said that the State Government is very interested in encouraging peoples’ liberty and freedom, as he recalled that the Correctional Centres and Cells in the State are overcrowded and both the Governor with his prerogative of mercy functions and the Chief Justice of the State during Jail Deliveries have been releasing inmates, but still the cells are overcrowded.

He pointed out that majority of the inmates in the cells are Awaiting trial and there are various inmates who are unjustly detained in the State.

Chief Akaolisa used the opportunity to call on Imolites to petition his office if they observe any person is unjustly detained, pointing out that the present administration abhors such abnormality.

Earlier on, the Executive Director of the Advocacy group, Nnennaya Enyinna-Eneremadu had informed the Hon Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice that they are an Advocacy group that advocates for the liberty of people and the strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, especially in the correctional centres or cells, especially during this time of COVID-19.

She pointed out that from a research made available; police is the singular sector that have contributed to the overcrowding in the Correctional Centres and cells.

The Executive Director said that the available facilities in the Centres have been overstretched and need to be handled amicably and maturely.

The group later recommended that to have adequate spacing in the Correctional Centre and Cells, there is need for the security agents to reduce the rate of arbitrary arrests and detention, enforcement of the Principles of Human Rights in the Criminals Justices process and the Equipment and mandating the Police Personnel to investigate and prosecute within the time prescribed by the law.

The Advocacy is in partnership with Lawyers Alert and with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

The following people were present during the courtesy visit.

1. Chief Sir C.O. C. Akaolisa – Attorney General, Imo State Ministry of Justice
2. Nnennaya Enyinna-Eneremadu- Executive Director, CARA Development Foundation.
3. Blessing Duru- Programme Manager, Alliances for Africa
4. Marjorie Ezihe – Coordinator, Imo State Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG).
5. Joy Onuoha- Secretary, Imo State Child Protection Network (CPN)
6. Barr. Vitalis Ekwem- Chairperson, Imo State Child Protection Network.
7. Emma Odibo, Editor, Announcer Express.

…EO