…As Lawyers hold Annual Day with Archbishop
Catholic clerics and elders have decried the deplorable state of correctional centres and conditions of inmates, as they expressed concern over the high rate of congestion in Nigerian prisons, calling on the government and relevant authorities to quicken the trial and conviction process of persons who committed minor offences, so as to serve their terms and set free at the right time. This formed the centre of discussion at the 2024 Catholic Lawyers’ Day with the Archbishop, organised by the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Lagos Archdiocese, held recently at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.
Delivering the keynote address, themed, “Nigeria social justice issues: Where are the Catholic lawyers?”, Sir Egbert Imomoh KSM, said correctional centres are supposed to promote public protection by providing assistance for offenders in their reformation and rehabilitation under safe, secure and humane conditions in accordance with universally accepted standard, and to facilitate their social reintegration into society. He decried the alarming number of persons who are yet to be tried and convicted, usually referred to as ‘awaiting trial’ in correctional centres across the country. According to him, those awaiting trial have not been tried, and may not know when they will be tried, adding that the worrying aspect of their detention is the fact that many are held for crimes for which if they had been promptly tried and perhaps convicted, they would have served their terms, reformed, rehabilitated and departed into the free world.
Enumerating the problems that hamper the smooth running of prisons, and handling of offenders, Imomoh suggested pro bono contribution by Catholic lawyers, Governors granting amnesty to those who committed trivial offences, and have spent more than three years in detention without trial, among others as ways to decongest correctional centres in the country. Speaking on the occasion, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos commended the Catholic lawyers for paying attention to the needs of inmates, rehabilitating those who have left the prison, as well as finding ways for them to be reabsorbed into the society. The Archbishop urged them not to be discouraged, but ensure that people who are not supposed to be incarcerated come out of prison, in line with the social teachings of the Church which pays attention to the dignity of the human person.
He said with the lawyers’ efforts and the grace of God, they can do much more to make the difference that is desired. For her part, Barr. Florence Atuluku, President, National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) Lagos Archdiocese said Catholic lawyers’ Day with the Archbishop is a platform for lawyers in the Archdiocese to interact with the Archbishop, priests and stakeholders on issues concerning the Catholic lawyers in the Archdiocese, and charting the way forward. Thanking the Archbishop, the president assured him that the association will ensure it tackles the issues, including social and justice, as well as values that are not Catholic in the system.
