President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mazi Afam Osigwe, in a stirring statement that calls into question Nigeria’s commitment to fair treatment and human rights, expressed grave concern over the prolonged detention and reported mistreatment of young protesters held in pre-trial detention.
Commenting on the development in an interview with the Saturday Punch, Osigwe said: “This does not make us look good at all. It makes the credence of our correctional facilities and our pre-trial detention condition questionable and deplorable and portrays a negative image of us in the international community.
“Every effort must be made, either to release them (suspects) immediately on account of their long period of incarceration and be reunited with their families or if the Federal Government insists on trying them, they should be returned to the places where they were arrested, so that they will be close to their families and their families will be able to arrange for legal services for them and also be close to them and be able to follow the trial.”
As NBA’s position resonates across Nigeria and beyond, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of reform in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. His call for the humane treatment of detainees – especially vulnerable minor – is a clarion call to uphold the dignity of all citizens, regardless of their status or circumstances.
The NBA President’s message is clear: a fair and just society must prioritize the humane treatment of all individuals within its system, especially those who have not yet been convicted of any crime.
According to Mazi Osigwe, “It does not speak well of our criminal justice system that such children, looking malnourished, are being charged, showing that we have treated them poorly before their trial in court.”
