NAN-H-59
Justice
By Sunday John
Lafia, Sept. 26, 2017 (NAN) Mr Samuel Agidi, a retired Assistant Controller- General (ACG) of Prisons, has attributed slow dispensation of justice as one of the reasons for the spate of jail breaks across the country.
Agidi made the remark on Tuesday in Lafia while speaking with newsmen.
He said that based on his experience while in service, inmates who participate in jail break were mostly those awaiting trial who have stayed in prisons for a long period.
He said that the number of inmates awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons out number those who are serving various jail terms.
“Most of the incidence of prison break can be traced to slow dispensation of justice for those awaiting trials.
“If the judiciary will work hard to reduce cases of inmates awaiting trial, it will go a long way to curb prison breaks in the country,’’ he said.
Agidi, who argued that Nigerian prison ranks favourably with international standard, suggested that prisons inherited from the old native authority system should be upgraded.
The former prison official expressed his intention to join in the race to represent his constituency as a federal lawmaker in the forthcoming general election.
When asked why he wants to join politics, Agidi said, “I have received several calls from people in my constituency to represent them.
“My people, the Migili in southern senatorial zone of Nasarawa state, have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy.’’
He appealed to Nasarawa State Government to build a General Hospital in Duduguru, Gidiyen village to serve the people of the area. (NAN)
SDJ/DO/AEA
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Edited by David Onilede/Archibong Asuquo