Akwa Ibom Correctional Service: 46 Inmates Miss Court Transport

• Forty-six awaiting trial inmates at the Eket Medium Security Correctional Centre in Akwa Ibom State cannot attend court hearings due to a lack of operational vehicles.
• Chief Superintendent of Corrections Samuel Bassey confirmed that some inmates from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area have not appeared in court since 2023 for this reason.
• The facility sometimes resorts to risky practices like hiring minibuses from local parks, as none of its own vehicles are functional.
• Despite numerous letters to authorities requesting vehicles, the facility has received no response, with the last donation occurring during former Governor Godswill Akpabio's tenure.
• The centre also faces issues with worn-out roofs exposing inmates to harsh weather, though inmate feeding and medical services are reportedly adequate.

The inability to present inmates before the courts raises profound questions about the dispensation of justice, as highlighted by CSC Samuel Bassey.

Forty-six inmates awaiting trial at the Eket Medium Security Correctional Centre in Akwa Ibom State are currently unable to attend their scheduled court hearings. This significant disruption stems from a critical shortage of operational vehicles needed to transport them from the facility, located along Liverpool Road in the Eket Local Government Area.

Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) Samuel Bassey, who serves as the Officer in Charge of the Eket facility, brought this pressing issue to light during a recent visit by members of the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals forum. He explained that some of these Akwa Ibom awaiting trial inmates, including individuals transferred from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, have been held since 2023 without a single court appearance, solely due to the lack of transport. The facility's jurisdiction extends across nine local government areas, encompassing 18 courts, making reliable transportation indispensable for the judicial process.

CSC Bassey further revealed the precarious measures sometimes taken to address the Correctional Service vehicle shortage. He noted that the centre occasionally resorts to hiring minibuses from local parks to convey inmates to court, a practice he described as inherently risky due to the necessity of ensuring the trustworthiness of the engaged drivers. This stopgap solution underscores the severity of the transport crisis, as none of the facility's dedicated vehicles are currently functional, and even one undergoing repairs at a workshop is beyond fixing.

The inability to present inmates before the courts raises profound questions about the dispensation of justice, as highlighted by CSC Samuel Bassey. This situation directly impacts the Nigeria right to fair hearing, a fundamental aspect of due process, by preventing individuals from having their cases heard in a timely manner. The facility has made repeated attempts to secure assistance, having sent numerous letters to relevant authorities requesting operational vehicles, but these appeals have consistently gone unanswered.

This long-standing issue is not new; the last vehicle donated to the Eket Medium Security Correctional Centre was during the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio, who now holds the position of Senate President. The ongoing lack of response to pleas for essential resources points to a systemic challenge within the correctional services, where critical operational needs are not being met, thereby undermining the judicial system's ability to function effectively and uphold the rights of awaiting trial inmates.

Beyond the immediate transport crisis, the Eket facility faces additional significant challenges, contributing to what CSC Samuel Bassey termed a "very worrisome" situation for both inmates and staff. Infrastructure is a major concern, with heavy rainfall in southern Nigeria causing extensive wear and tear to several roofs within the facility, exposing inmates to harsh weather conditions. Bassey emphasized that the centre lacks the independent capacity to remedy these structural issues.

Despite these operational and infrastructural hurdles, the welfare of inmates in certain areas is being adequately addressed. The Federal Government is reportedly providing sufficient food, and medical services are available at the facility's clinic, delivered by trained professionals. During their visit, the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals, led by Chairman Enobong Nsimah, not only observed the dilapidated residential quarters for correctional officers but also proposed collaborations to offer legal services to unrepresented inmates and introduce skill acquisition training programs. CSC Bassey has issued a broad appeal to all levels of government, corporate organizations, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropists to provide the necessary support to enable the facility to fulfill its duties effectively.

Lawyers representing awaiting-trial inmates in Akwa Ibom, particularly those held at the Eket facility, should be aware of systemic transport issues causing court hearing delays. This situation can be leveraged in bail applications or applications for accelerated hearings, and highlights potential human rights violations regarding the right to a fair trial.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH