Nigeria: Senate Decries Prison Congestion, Poor Justice Delivery for Poor

All Africa
The Senate on Thursday expressed worry over the menace of prison congestion and inadequate legal representation for the poor.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. Umaru Dahiru, expressed the concern in Lagos on Thursday.

Dahiru spoke at the one day stakeholders' conference organised by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LAC).

He urged the judiciary to pay more attention to the representation of the poor in the society to decongest the prisons and assist the council to carry out its mandate.

He said no Nigerian should be denied access to justice, irrespective of social class and financial strength, adding that it was a fundamental right of all.

"In the past we approved eight billion naira for the decongestion of prisons, yet we have no result.

"This year we funded the judiciary with N68 billion. Is it just to build courts and appoint judges? "Those things don't make meaning to the poor. The only way out is for the poor in the society to feel the impact of the judicial system in this country.

He called on Nigeria Bar Association, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, to assist the LAC to increase its scope to recruit more lawyers.