A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF PRISONERS’ RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53704/fulaj.v1i2.531Abstract
Prisoners’ rights in Nigeria are enshrined in the constitution and various legal frameworks, guaranteeing basic rights like freedom from torture and access to legal representation. However, the reality can be harsh. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and violence are all documented issues. This paper undertakes a thorough investigation into the status of prisoner rights in Nigerian, scrutinising the legal framework, institutional practices, and societal attitudes that shape the experiences of incarcerated individuals. This paper employed a doctrinal approach through a rigorous analysis of statutes, case law, and international legal instruments as well as an historical analysis of the evolution of legal norms governing imprisonment by tracing the development of relevant jurisprudence and the interpretation of constitutional guarantees in relation to prisoner welfare. This paper concluded that there are ongoing efforts at reform, but ensuring these rights are upheld in practice remains a challenge. This paper advocates for sustainable funding, improved monitoring, increased transparency, improved prison conditions, training for prison staff and rehabilitation amongst others, to ensure that these prisoners’ rights are applied in reality.
Keywords: Prison, Prisoners, Rights, Overcrowding and Incarceration
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