Deputy Superintendent of Corrections (DSC), Nsikan Blessing has decried the delay in criminal justice administration in the country.
According to her, the slow pace of the judicial process alongside incessant adjournments, shoddy investigation and unwillingness to speedily prosecute cases in court have ensured that many people remain in prison for unusually long and indeterminable periods of time, before their cases are ultimately disposed of.
Speaking during the launch of her book titled, ‘Stars behind the bars’, Blessing said the Nigerian correctional system is faced with numerous challenges and rehabilitation problems, which leads to congestion of prisons.
Among the challenges, she said, are the slow judicial process, insufficient courtrooms, as well as shortage of judges and magistrate.
“Decongesting Nigeria correctional centre would tremendously improve the welfare and quality of lives of inmates,” Blessing said.
She explained that the book reveals the opportunities wrapped up in the correctional facilities.
“It is designed with principles that will help both convicted and awaiting trial inmates with coping mechanisms to overcome depression and anxiety to pursue their dreams,” she stated.
Udome Udoh, the book reviewer, explained that the book is about the entire value chain, the criminal administration system, starting from the investigation with the police, the courts and the eventual custody in the correctional centres.
“When you are in the correctional custody, take advantage of the huge resources like the educational resources in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), the empowerment programmes, the training and the informational programmes. All these are skewed towards total reform,” he said.
Also, former Deputy Controller of Correctional service, Aremu Tajudeen noted that the book is a source of material for the incoming officers.
“It affords them the opportunity to know more about their job, especially the sociological aspect of it,” Tajudeen stated.
