Legend Golden Care Foundation and Hope Behind Bars Africa, on the 19th 0f January 2023, launched a new project tagged Accelerating Justice Reforms in Nigeria. This objective of the project is to advocate for the decongestion of correctional centers and the speedy dispensation of justice for awaiting trial inmates.
To kickstart the project, the foundations held a short ceremony at the Nigeria Correctional Service to donate some items to the non-custodial unit, which are to aid the implementation of non-custodial measures like community service.
In attendance were the Executive Directors of both foundations, Mrs Kanayo Olisa-Metuh and Mrs Funke Adeoye. The Deputy Controller of Corrections, Human Resources, Austin Ujadughele, who represented the controller of corrections FCT Command, The Deputy Controller of Corrections, Non-Custodial Unit Mrs Esther Onuabuchi Benson and other top officers of the Correctional Service FCT command. The event was equally attended by the team of both foundations.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Kanayo Olisa-Metuh stated that her foundation is not a stranger to the Nigerian Correctional Service and that they are passionate about reforms in the Justice System. She added that they have partnered with Hope Behind Bars Africa to launch Accelerating Justice Reform in Nigeria. She stated that the two organizations are passionate about decongesting the correctional centers and reducing the number of people awaiting trial inmates.
She went further to add that they plan to do this by advocating for the implementation of existing laws, as there seems to be a gap between the enactment and implementation of laws. A case at hand, she noted, is The Nigeria Correctional Service Act 2019, which provides for Custodial and Non-Custodial Service. Mrs Kanayo stated that whilst the Custodial Unit seems to be running as it should, the Non-Custodial seems to exist on paper. She noted that having the Non- custodial operational would definitely reduce the number of people in correctional as she sees no need to incarcerate people who committed misdemeanors. She pointed out that funding is the major setback to implementing the ACT and stated that the reason for the visit was to donate items to the service that would aid the correctional service with their Community service.
The items donated include wheelbarrows, headpans, shovels, cutlasses, and rakes, amongst others
During her speech, Mrs Funke Adeoye, thanked the Correctional Service for their support and collaboration. She stated that the foundations would engage other stakeholders to ensure that the challenges facing the justice system in Nigeria are addressed. She went further to add that the donations won’t be one-offs but that the foundations would appreciate feedback from the correctional service.