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Author: adminrejafrica

REJA WINS ANOTHER HUMAN RIGHTS BATTLE AGAINST UNJUST INCARCERATION AS COURT AWARDS 2 MILLION NAIRA DAMAGES AGAINST COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NASARAWA STATE

A High Court sitting at Uke, Nasarawa State has awarded the sum of 2 Million Naira in damages against the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa for the unlawful and continuous detention of Mr. Stephen Jonah who has been in Keffi Maximum Security Correctional Facility since 2022.

The REJA Team met the Applicant during one of its routine visits to the Keffi Correctional Centre and immediately swung into action by filing a fundamental rights enforcement case on his behalf. The case between Stephen Jonah and Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State and the Attorney General of Nasarawa State with Suit No: NSD/MG610/2023 was filed before the Court on the 5th of December 2023.

The Court in its judgement held that the Nasarawa Police Command ‘failed to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Nasarawa State’ and wrongfully violated the Applicant’s right to freedom and dignity as a Nigerian Citizen. The Court further ordered the unconditional release of Mr. Stephen Jonah from the Keffi Correctional Centre.

The court’s decision is a significant victory for justice and human rights. We call upon the Attorney General of Nasarawa State and the Assistant Controller of Corrections, Nasarawa State to comply with the court’s order and release Stephen Jonah immediately.

Every week, volunteer lawyers and paralegals visit correctional facilities across Nigeria as a strong commitment to improving access to justice for indigent inmates who have been trapped in the justice system and forgotten by the ones who swore to protect their rights. We reiterate our commitment to people who have been abandoned behind bars simply for being poor and having no one to speak for them.

We urge all stakeholders in the criminal justice system to play their part in ensuring the human rights of persons are respected and the criminal laws of the country are followed strictly.

The disturbing trend of law enforcement agents remanding and forgetting people behind bars for years only to file unsubstantiated charges when a fundamental rights action is instituted must be strongly condemned and discouraged.

PRISONERS RIGHT TO VOTE IN NIGERIA

Abraham Lincoln talking about democracy would say it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Democracy entails the exercise of the electoral right of the people wherein citizens are allowed to participate in the process of choosing their representatives at different levels of government. The right to participate in politics though may be subject to few other qualifications set down by the laws of each polity, it is intricately linked to the citizenship right of an individual. Meaning, every citizen except those suffering from certain disabilities should participate in the government of the political entity to which it belongs.

Myths and Facts about Restorative Justice

Myth 4: Restorative Justice is not suitable for all cases, it is only appropriate for minor offences.

Fact: Restorative Justice (RJ) has proven to be very appropriate for capital offences as it has been for minor offences. For minor offences, RJ has provided alternativs to custodian sentences and for capital offences, it has be used in conjunction with the mainstream Justice system to achieve great results.

Myths and Facts About Restorative Justice

Myth 2: Restorative justice is a get out of jail free card for the offender.

Fact: Restorative Justice (RJ) advocates for a healthy complement to and in certain cases of minor offences, an alternative to retributive justice. RJ does not do away with punishment, but advocates for restitution and repair which are punishments away from imprisonment in certain cases.