By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
A civic organisation, the Eagle Brain Youth Transformative and Development Initiative (EBYTDI), has reported a disturbing injustice in Kaduna State, where hundreds of detainees, including one Emmanuel Musa, have languished in prison for years without trial because the Kaduna Correctional Centres lack the necessary logistics to transport them to court.
In a statement from its Executive Director, Mr. Daniel Ejembi, it was revealed that Emmanuel Musa, who lives in Ungwan Gajere, Maraban Rido, was arrested in 2018 after he intervened to stop a suspected bandit from being lynched at his home, insisting that the suspect be handed over to the security forces.
He noted, “Rather than being praised for upholding the rule of law, he was detained, and for six years, the Kaduna Correctional Service has failed in its responsibilities.”
“This situation is not unique. Numerous detainees in Kaduna prisons have never been presented in a courtroom, not because their cases are delayed, but due to the lack of vehicles, fuel, and security personnel to facilitate their transport to court.”
Ejembi expressed deep concern over the human cost of such institutional failures, highlighting the plight of innocent individuals like Emmanuel, who has endured six years of imprisonment without conviction, suffering severe psychological distress as a result.
He elaborated that the family has been devastated; his dependents, who relied on him for support, are now facing hardship and poverty. He remarked, “The justice system is ridiculed when detainees cannot even make an appearance in court; the legal process descends into a cruel farce.”
He urged the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and the Judiciary to explain why there are no operational vehicles for transporting detainees, why the government has neglected to allocate funds for inmate logistics, and who will bear responsibility for these unconstitutional delays.
The group is demanding immediate action from Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, the Controller of Corrections, the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, and the Nigerian Human Rights Commission to rectify this broken system.
Ejembi underscored the necessity of providing operational vehicles and security for the transportation of inmates, prioritising cases of those held without trial, and ensuring accountability for official negligence.
