CJ Warns Against Using Security Agents as Instrument of Oppression

Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, has warned that no security agent should be used as instrument of oppression to punish individual. Justice Ajanah who gave the warning after the review of 40 awaiting trial cases during the prison decongestion visit to Ankpa Prison yesterday, stated that the police must always conduct thorough investigation before an accused person is charged to court. The Chief Judge explained that nobody should use prison facility to oppress individual or group of people in the society because of their positions or connections. He urged the police to be vigilant and always bring those using the state apparatus to oppress other to book to serve as deterrence to others.

Justice Ajanah also observed that some of inmates required medical attention before charging them to court, adding that some needed to be taken to psychiatric home before their cases are brought before the court. Earlier, the Chief Judge has reviewed 27 cases of awaiting trial at the Dekina Prison and gave the directive for the speedy trial of the inmates so as to decongest the prisons and as well, ensure that only deserving suspects were kept in prison custody. He said that as part of his prison decongestion efforts, the state judiciary had embarked on accelerated hearing of cases, adding that a two-week exercise would soon be organised to determine the cases. The Chief Judge who reviewed warrants of 27 awaiting trial inmates at the prison granted bail to five of the inmates in N20, 000 each with sureties who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court in like sum.

Ajanah expressed displeasure that he could not release any of the inmates unconditionally as a result of the serious nature of their offences which ranged from culpable homicide, armed robbery, rape, kidnapping to theft. He commended the prison authorities for keeping the Dekina Prisons established in 1927 neat and in good condition though with archaic structures. Ajanah also commended security agencies in the area for ensuring that the crime rate in the area was kept very low as the 34-inmate capacity prison currently has 27 awaiting trial inmates and 11 convicts. Speaking earlier, the Assistant Comptroller of Prisons in charge of the facility, Mr Emmanuel Omale, said the prison lacked potable water as it relied only on the river for its water needs. ‘’My Lord, the only source of water we have here is the stream, but once there is rain, the water completely changes colour being filled with sand and debris making it unsafe for use. Omale thanked the Chief Judge for the visit and implored him to prevail on government to sink a borehole in the facility.

Nationalmirroronline