Legend Christian Picador’s Story
Legend Christian Picador’s Story – A man held for a crime he was unaware of.
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Rahina Ibrahim – GETECH SCHOLAR
Rahina Ibrahim – Story Of A 15-Year-Old Who Couldn’t Switch On A Computer But Is Now A Web Designer
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Legend BB’s Story
Legend BB (Not her real name) was arrested in 2021 and charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. LGCF took up her case in 2021 and in January 2022 after repeated meetings and attempts of reconciliation. The charges against her were dropped and BB was discharged.
Legend DA’s Story
Legend DA (Not his real name) was arrested in 2018 and charged with armed robbery and homicide. DA always maintained his innocence. He was remanded in Kuje Correctional Center and was kept awaiting trial for 4 years. Our team took up his case and in 2022, DA was discharged after the Judge granted a motion praying the court to strike off his name from the charge due to lack of evidence against him. LGCF helped DA with transport money back to Kogi, where he is now reunited with his family.
Legend Ehimen Osahon’s Story
I, Ehimen Osahon, hails from Edo State. I have an NCE in Computer education/Accounting, and BSc in Education management. Prior to my arrest on November 7th, 2016, I lost my job as a banker with United Bank for Africa Plc and as a married man with a wife and two kids I have to get a boxer (modern J5) to start a food business. I buy and sell and transport plantain, pawpaw and pineapple to different places such as Abuja, Kaduna, Onitsha, Port-Harcourt etc. for survival hoping and praying for a better white-collar job. On this fateful day, I was approached by one Mr. Emma to help him convey some items to Kaduna and transport cost was agreed upon. I didn’t know in detail what and what I was to carry, but on getting to the location where the items were, I discovered it was cannabis sativa (Marijuana also called Igbo). I gave him a very high price in other to discourage him from using me to carry the items but to my greatest surprise he agreed to the price and I carried the items. On my way to Abaji I was apprehended by officers of the NDLEA and thus arrested, after three months in their custody, I was arraigned by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja. I spent 2 years and eight months awaiting trial and he (Justice Okon Abang) struck out my case on the instance of the prosecutor lacking evidence to prosecute me. However, I was re-arraigned on the same case before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who later sentenced me to seven years imprisonment (but to spend 4 years and 8 months). While in custody, not to waste my effective life, I picked up a master degree programme in Education administration and Planning with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), January, 2018. It was a tuition free programme, but other expenses were borne solely by the inmates. Therefore, the research project writing is a big bottleneck, since I don’t have the funds to finance it. Then, Legend Golden Care Foundation (LGCF) came to my rescue. Firstly, LGCF organised a Bible quiz competition for inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The first prize for the competition was N20,000.00 and I won it and spent the proceeds on my project work, The Organisation, impressed at how an inmate could be running a master degree programme with the abysmal conditions in the correctional facility promised to continue from there. Since then, all other expenses I incurred to finish the programme came from LGCF and they even promised to give me a job once I am out of the walls of the Correctional Facility. On July 8, 2021 I was released, LGCF invited me to their office and gave me an employment letter, but first asked me to go back to Benin City to see my family and come back to resume once I am ready, they even gave me accommodation. There is this societal stigmatisation on ex-inmate, personally where to go, where to start from, how do I fit into the society and avoid recidivism, where all over me. But my integration into the society became very easy thanks to LGCF. Today, I have a place to stay in Abuja, I have a job to do in Abuja, and my family has reunited with me here in Abuja, all thanks to God Almighty and Legend Golden Care Foundation. I’ll forever be grateful to LGCF.
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Girls’ Empowerment in Technology (GETECH) – Empowering the next generation of tech superstars
The ‘Girls Empowerment in Technology (GETECH)’ initiative is a groundbreaking program aimed at preparing secondary school girls for immediate employability upon completion of their secondary education. Through strategic partnerships with esteemed organizations such as the High Tech Center and TechHer NG, GETECH is not only equipping participants with vital tech skills but also cultivating their leadership capabilities. In a world where the tech industry’s influence spans across sectors, GETECH serves as a crucial avenue for young women to bridge the gender gap and contribute actively to this burgeoning field. By fostering tangible skills and empowering mindsets, GETECH is on a mission to reshape the narrative of gender equality and technological prowess in Nigeria. A significant milestone has been achieved through GETECH’s efforts, with a successful six-month training program in Desktop Publishing and Web Development for 78 students from the Government Secondary School Mpape, Abuja, Nigeria. This training has laid the foundation for these young women to navigate the intricacies of the digital realm confidently. As GETECH progresses, we are excited to announce the commencement of the pre-internship phase, where participants will gain hands-on experience and practical insights, further bolstering their skill sets. By nurturing the talents of young girls and providing them with the tools to thrive in the tech arena, GETECH is actively contributing to a more inclusive and forward-looking tech industry, fostering a legacy of gender equality and technological empowerment.
STAKEHOLDERS DIALOGUE ON NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES AND LAUNCH OF POLICY BRIEF
To promote the awareness on the existence of the Non-Custodial Unit in Nigeria, we organised a one day stakeholders dialogue in partnership with Hope Behind Bars Africa. The stakeholders dialogue was held as a part of our AJURN Project, and a policy brief was launched, which you can find HERE. In attendance were Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Representatives of the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, committee on Judiciary and committee on FCT Judiciary, Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest Law, National Human Rights Commision, Legal Aid Council, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian Police Force, FCT Judiciary, Restorative Justice in Africa, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Advocacy (PRAWA), Law Corridor, University of Abuja Law Clinic, Baze University Law Clinic, Veritas University, Gavel, NULAI, CLEEN Foundation, CJID, members of the Press among others. Various Organizations and agencies expressed and delivered their goodwill messages while commending the organization for putting up the laudable event. These include, the representatives of the Controller General of Corrections and Controller FCT command, The representative of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. The first panel session was moderated by Mrs Funke Adeoye, and the panelists included representatives from the Police FCT Command, the Deputy Controller of Corrections, the Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, the Judiciary NULAI, and NBA SPIDEL. Mrs. Kanayo Olisa-Metuh moderated the second panel, which included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Judiciary, the Judiciary, PRAWA, the National Human Rights Commission, and Goodshare & Maxwell. Some key recommendations made during the dialogue are as follows; Reformation begins at the point of arrest. Efforts must be made by staff of the Nigerian Police Force and other agencies with the power to arrest, to ensure that the offenders understand the charges placed against them. Non Custodial measures such as compensation, suspended sentencing, probation, and fines, should be largely considered in place of conviction. 3. There should be a paradigm shift in the procedure for arrest. Investigations should be made before arrest not after arrest. 4. At the pretrial stage, every form of peaceful resolution must be explored to reduce the rate of incarceration. 5. There needs to be a mindset shift in citizens from punitive to restorative. 6. The executive arm of government must become more intentional about fulfilling their responsibility especially from the top. 7. Different arms with the power to arrest must ensure that they act within the ambits of their jurisdiction and responsibilities. 8. More work must be done to sensitise citizens on the work of different agencies to ensure that when there is a default, the right agency will be held responsible. 9. There is a need to critically consider skill empowerment in the course of non-custodial sentencing. 10. The legal departments of arresting agencies need to be very cautious in sieving cases to ensure that cases are not mislabeled in an attempt to ensure offenders are prosecuted at all cost. At the end of the event, the program Coordinator, made a call to actions whilst calling on agencies that wish to collaborate with the foundations to reach out to them. The Program manager gave a closing remark and on that note the event ended.
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POLICY BRIEF ON NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES
Under the Accelerating Justice Reform In Nigeria project, and together with Hope Behind Bars Africa, we have come up with a policy brief on the Review and Analysis of the Non-Custodial System in Nigeria. The use of non-custodial measures should not interfere with the campaign to decriminalise petty offences. There is a need for proper funding of the non-custodial service and one of the ways to do this is the activation of the Non-custodial Special Fund. Civil society organisations and other authorities need to play a major role in the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of non-custodial services. This document outlines our recommendations for reducing overcrowding in custodial centres. The full brief is below and available for download. download pdf
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Press Conference on Awaiting Trial Syndrome
Legend Golden Care Foundation had a media press briefing on the Awaiting Trial Syndrome in Nigeria held at the Office of the foundation on 27th October 2022 with various stakeholders in attendance which included; the Representatives of a member of the house of representatives (chairman house committee on judiciary), Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Correctional Service, Civil Society Organizations, legal practitioners and the media. The purpose of the event was to present the communique to the public and as well get the stakeholders to adopt the recommendations from the stakeholder’s dialogue held on the 22nd of September 2022.
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DONATIONS AT THE CORRECTIONAL CENTERS
Under the Beyond the wall initiative, LGCF in the year 2021 and 2022 donated relief materials to the Suleja and Kuje Correctional Centers, these includes Chairs and food parcels. We believe in – Philanthropy, equal society, humanitarian aid, promotion of justice and human rights We look to promote an open society where the indigent and vulnerable have equal access to basic amenities, needs and justice. Who we target – the indigents, low income earners, the less privileged, the vulnerable, indigent prisoners and illegally detained persons.
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