Some inmates in Nigeria stay behind bars for years regardless of requiring fines of lower than N5,000 for launch, whereas others await trial with out conviction. Sir Emmanuel Onyebadi, Worthy Advocate of the Knights of Saint Mulumba’s Victoria Garden City Sub-Council, decries these injustices, jail congestion and delayed trials, urging reforms to revive dignity and hope. He speaks with Sunday Ehigiator
OkSM is concerned in a number of social actions. Walk us by your contributions, significantly within the space of jail advocacy and social welfare?
I ought to make clear that the top of the Knights on the Sub-Council stage is the Grand Knight. I’m a member of the Sub-Council’s govt, and my duty falls below jail advocacy. The Order’s obligations are divided amongst totally different workplaces, every with clearly outlined capabilities. Therefore, I’ll converse particularly concerning the work of the Prison and Advocacy Committee of the VGC Sub-Council reasonably than declare to talk for all the Sub-Council. Our committee is worried with the welfare, dignity, rights and rehabilitation of inmates, in addition to advocacy for justice and humane remedy inside the felony justice system. In Nigeria, as soon as somebody is arrested and charged, society typically begins to deal with that individual as a felony. When the individual is remanded in a custodial centre, there may be typically the notion that they’ve misplaced their rights and privileges and may not relate meaningfully with society. Through jail visits and different interventions, we search to help folks in these circumstances. Many inmates are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted of any offence, but some spend years in custody. Our actions cowl a number of areas. First, we go to inmates, pray with them, counsel them, encourage them and assist them keep their religion. Secondly, we offer welfare and humanitarian help by mobilising donations of meals, clothes and different requirements, significantly for indigent inmates who’ve no one to assist them. Thirdly, we advocate in opposition to jail congestion, extended pretrial detention and limitations to entry to justice. We additionally promote the humane remedy of inmates. We determine inmates who could possibly be launched after paying comparatively small fines. In some circumstances, the quantity required is lower than N5,000. Where acceptable, we assist such inmates meet these obligations to allow them to be launched. We additionally facilitate entry to authorized help by legal professionals who present companies to inmates who need assistance navigating the justice system. Finally, we give attention to rehabilitation and reintegration. Releasing somebody from custody shouldn’t be sufficient. Those who’ve spent appreciable time there want assist to rebuild their lives and return to society. We due to this fact discover methods of serving to them purchase the sources and expertise essential to reintegrate efficiently.
How are these actions organised throughout Lagos, and which custodial centre does the VGC Sub-Council serve?
The Knights of Saint Mulumba have a presence throughout the ecclesiastical provinces in Nigeria. We belong to the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province and function below the Lagos Metropolitan Council, which has sub-councils unfold throughout Lagos State. The VGC Sub-Council is assigned to work with the Ikoyi Medium Custodial Centre. Other sub-councils additionally undertake jail visitation and associated actions at custodial centres inside the Lagos Archdiocese. Our work is coordinated with the Archdiocesan Prison Apostolate and its jail chaplaincy to make sure consistency in our actions. We additionally report our interventions to the Metropolitan Council, which pertains to the Archdiocese. It is necessary to emphasize that membership of the VGC Sub-Council’s Prison and Advocacy Committee includes each Knights and Ladies of the Sub-Council. Furthermore, the work we undertake on the VGC Sub-Council is replicated, and in some circumstances on a a lot bigger scale, by Advocacy Committees of different sub-councils below the Lagos Metropolitan Council, working below the management of the Metropolitan Advocate. The Order stays dedicated to selling Christian values of mercy, justice, human dignity and the rehabilitation of offenders by sensible motion. In line with the mission of the Archdiocesan Prison Apostolate, we recognise that an individual in jail retains their human dignity and deserves care, whereas additionally respecting victims’ rights and the necessities of justice.
What particular intervention has the VGC Sub-Council undertaken to enhance inmates’ welfare, significantly in healthcare?
During our jail visitation in 2025, we found that many inmates urgently wanted medical help. The correctional authorities had been making efforts to take care of the dignity and welfare of inmates, however the massive variety of folks of their custody positioned appreciable strain on the sources accessible to them. We discovered a number of inmates affected by hernia and requiring surgical procedure. Others wanted fundamental medical care and medicines. Following that go to, we determined to pay attention a few of our sources on serving to critically ailing inmates entry remedy. As a Sub-Council, we mobilised funds amongst ourselves to assist hernia surgical procedures. The initiative was profitable, and we’ve got adopted it as an annual programme. Each 12 months, we goal to assist a specified variety of inmates who require the process. The course of is clear. The correctional authorities determine inmates in important want of surgical procedure, whereas our medical practitioners liaise with the power’s medical personnel to evaluate the circumstances and coordinate the intervention. We present the required funding and medical provides, whereas the surgical procedures are performed by the suitable medical personnel on the correctional facility’s clinic in Kirikiri. We have witnessed these procedures and seen the reduction they create to beneficiaries. For our Sub-Council, our goal for the 2025–2026 interval has been to assist roughly 10 inmates to bear hernia surgical procedure. We have funded the programme, with three circumstances remaining on the time of this interview, pending the presentation and identification of appropriate beneficiaries. We have additionally supplied medical provides primarily based on lists of important medicines submitted by the correctional authorities. We have accomplished two rounds of such assist, with one other deliberate earlier than the tip of November. These interventions will not be meant to interchange the obligations of presidency. Rather, they’re our contribution to making sure that inmates who urgently want medical care will not be uncared for due to useful resource constraints.
From your jail visits, how would you describe the situation of custodial centres in Nigeria, and what wants to alter?
The expertise shouldn’t be nice. Congestion is among the first stuff you discover if you go to a custodial centre. The variety of folks held there may be monumental relative to the services accessible, and one can solely think about the situations within the rooms the place inmates sleep. The services require extra enhancements to make them extra appropriate for human habitation. This is especially regarding as a result of many inmates haven’t been convicted of any offence; they’re awaiting trial. We additionally found that delays typically happen as a result of inmates can’t be transported to court docket when their circumstances are scheduled for listening to. Moving inmates requires purposeful automobiles and ample safety preparations. When these are unavailable, court docket appearances will be delayed, prolonging detention. Feeding and entry to requirements are additionally considerations. While I can’t converse authoritatively about each side of the feeding preparations as a result of I would not have all of the related data, the general situations reveal the necessity for higher funding within the correctional system. The authorities in control of custodial centres don’t decide how many individuals are arrested and introduced into their services. Once people are remanded, the authorities should accommodate them, no matter whether or not the accessible infrastructure can adequately assist the inhabitants. Our court docket system additionally contributes to the issue. Repeated adjournments, delayed trials and different procedural challenges imply that some inmates stay in custody for prolonged intervals. The function of incarceration ought to embody rehabilitation. If somebody has dedicated an offence, the correctional system ought to assist that individual recognise the results of their actions, reform and return to society as a greater citizen. Unfortunately, some former inmates wrestle to reintegrate as a result of society rejects them and so they lack the talents or assist wanted to earn a residing. This can contribute to reoffending. The drawback is due to this fact not restricted to the custodial centres themselves. It additionally entails the justice system, public attitudes and the absence of ample rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
What reforms would you advocate to deal with congestion and extended detention in custodial centres?
Our justice system is essentially adversarial, and we have to make higher use of different dispute decision mechanisms to resolve acceptable circumstances with out extended litigation. Alternative dispute decision is already being practised in some states, together with Lagos. Expanding entry to those mechanisms may assist scale back the variety of circumstances that proceed by prolonged court docket processes. We additionally want to enhance investigative procedures. Ideally, when somebody is suspected of committing an offence, the authorities ought to conduct correct investigations and set up credible proof earlier than taking the required steps in direction of prosecution. In some circumstances, nonetheless, individuals are arrested first, and investigations start afterwards. This can lead to extended detention, circumstances that don’t proceed successfully and conditions during which individuals are held with out ample proof to justify prosecution. We should strengthen investigative requirements and be sure that individuals are not subjected to pointless detention. Public training can also be necessary. In Nigeria, it may be straightforward for somebody to be accused of an offence, and allegations can typically have severe penalties even when the individual is later discovered to be harmless. Addressing these challenges require authorized reform, higher investigative practices, extra environment friendly courts and a change in public attitudes in direction of individuals who have been detained. However, on the VGC Sub-Council, we’ve got chosen to focus significantly on interventions that straight protect human life and dignity. That is why healthcare has change into a significant precedence for us.
Beyond healthcare, what’s the Sub-Council doing to assist inmates’ training and expertise improvement?
We haven’t deserted our different obligations. We proceed to assist inmates in training and different areas the place we are able to make a distinction. For instance, we found that some inmates had been resulting from sit for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations however had no one to sponsor them. So far, we’ve got assisted 17 candidates to take a seat for his or her WAEC examinations. That quantity is just a small fraction of those that want help. Unfortunately, the price of sponsorship is comparatively excessive, limiting what we are able to at the moment do. We have additionally encountered inmates who’re college graduates pursuing grasp’s and even doctoral programmes. Some of them want sponsorship to proceed their training. If we are able to safe extra sources, we want to assist these inmates in order that they’ll proceed their research and emerge from custody higher ready to contribute to society. Education may also create alternatives for inmates to show each other. Those with the requisite information and {qualifications} may assist put together fellow inmates for examinations and different educational pursuits. Skills acquisition is one other necessary space. We have seen inmates engaged in soap-making, art work, tailoring, fragrance manufacturing and the manufacture of diffusers, amongst different actions. Some of the merchandise are effectively made and will compete favourably within the market. The problem is discovering the sources and alternatives to increase manufacturing and create a sustainable marketplace for them. With acceptable assist, these actions may generate revenue, enhance inmates’ welfare and equip them with marketable expertise earlier than their launch. There is appreciable expertise inside custodial centres. What is required is a extra deliberate effort to develop these skills and join them with alternatives.
What function does public consciousness play in bettering welfare of inmates and supporting their reintegration?
Public consciousness is extraordinarily necessary. Unfortunately, there may be inadequate public understanding of the situations in custodial centres and the challenges inmates face. Many folks depend on what they learn on social media or within the information with out totally appreciating the realities of life in custody. Our sensitivities to the struggling of others seem like diminishing. We hear experiences of killings, kidnappings and different horrible incidents, and so they typically change into simply one other information story.
We not reply to such struggling with the extent of concern it deserves. If we can’t empathise with folks in tough circumstances, it turns into tougher to supply significant help. We want to teach the general public concerning the realities of incarceration, together with the truth that many inmates are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted of any offence. There are additionally restrictions on taking pictures of inmates and their residing situations, which may make it harder to indicate the general public what occurs inside custodial services. Nevertheless, organisations reminiscent of ours have a duty to make use of acceptable channels to boost consciousness, encourage compassion and promote constructive interventions. The extra folks perceive these challenges, the extra probably they’re to assist efforts to enhance inmates’ welfare and rehabilitation.
What’s your message to inmates and their households, significantly those that really feel forgotten or deserted?
First and foremost, we see inmates as human beings who’ve discovered themselves in tough circumstances. We encourage them to not regard themselves as outcasts however to recognise that they’ll nonetheless use their time in custody to enhance themselves. We remind them that they haven’t essentially been forgotten by their households or society. Some households could not even know that their family are in custody.
Rather than assume they’ve been deserted, inmates ought to see their circumstances as a possibility to rediscover their skills, develop their potential and put together for a greater future. Those approaching launch additionally want counselling. We work to encourage them to return to society with a optimistic outlook and a willpower to contribute meaningfully. However, rehabilitation can’t succeed with out acceptance by the broader society. Former inmates typically face stigma and suspicion, making it tough to safe employment and rebuild their lives. We should due to this fact educate our communities to present individuals who have served their sentences, or who’ve in any other case been lawfully launched, a possibility to reveal that they’ve modified. Of course, real repentance and accountability are necessary. Respecting the rights of victims and the necessities of justice doesn’t stop us from exhibiting compassion to offenders and supporting their rehabilitation. The biblical story of the prodigal son reminds us of the significance of welcoming somebody who returns and seeks a contemporary begin. Similarly, Christian educating calls on us to go to these in jail and provide them care and encouragement. Compassion for folks in custody shouldn’t be completely a Christian duty. Every member of society has a job to play in guaranteeing that individuals who have offended, or who’re awaiting trial, are handled with dignity and given acceptable alternatives for rehabilitation.
Does the VGC Sub-Council collaborate with CSO’s, authorities companies or different establishments to advance jail advocacy?
Yes. We work with established our bodies by which we stock out a lot of our actions. These embody the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) and the Association of Catholic Lawyers. We additionally work by the Prison Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Lagos, which coordinates prison-related actions inside the Church’s buildings. These partnerships present avenues for advancing our advocacy, supporting inmates and coordinating interventions. Our collaboration with these organisations helps be sure that our actions are correctly directed and that we are able to contribute to broader efforts to enhance the welfare and rehabilitation of individuals in custody.
Funding is clearly necessary to sustaining these interventions. How can members of the general public assist your work?
Public consciousness is a vital start line, and this interview is a part of that effort. When folks perceive what we’re doing and see the outcomes, organisations and people could also be inspired to associate with us on particular interventions. One problem in Nigeria is belief. People typically hesitate to contribute as a result of they’re unsure whether or not their donations will probably be used for the needs meant. That is why transparency and accountability are important. In our personal interventions, we don’t merely launch funds and depart every thing to likelihood. We work with the related professionals and authorities, be sure that sources attain the folks answerable for particular duties, and monitor the method to substantiate that the meant work is finished. For instance, in our medical interventions, we work with medical personnel to determine the wants, coordinate remedy and observe up on the method. This strategy helps us obtain outcomes and provides us confidence that the sources entrusted to us are being put to correct use. With higher consciousness and confidence in our work, we imagine Nigerians, company organisations, faith-based teams and worldwide companions may assist particular initiatives in healthcare, training, expertise acquisition and rehabilitation. Such partnerships would allow us to succeed in extra inmates and increase the impression of our interventions.
What’s your last message to Nigerians about jail advocacy and the work of KSM?
My message is that we should cease stereotyping everybody detained in a correctional centre as a felony who can not match into society. We want to alter the notion that everybody behind the partitions of a custodial centre is past redemption. People in custody stay human beings who deserve dignity and acceptable care. We ought to be prepared to assist initiatives that allow them purchase helpful expertise, proceed their training and return to society as higher residents. The final goal shouldn’t be merely to assist folks depart custody. It is to assist them rebuild their lives, embrace optimistic values and keep away from returning to the circumstances that introduced them there.
The Knights of Saint Mulumba stay dedicated to selling Christian values of mercy, justice, human dignity and rehabilitation by sensible motion. We additionally recognise the significance of respecting victims’ rights and guaranteeing that justice is served. We should all contribute to constructing a society during which individuals are held accountable for his or her actions however will not be denied the chance to reform and make optimistic contributions. That is the spirit during which we undertake our jail advocacy work.
