The new Case Management Unit designed and developed for Enugu State Command of Nigerian Prisons Service [NPS] by Prisoners Rehabilitation Welfare Action [PRAWA] with the support of DFID under the ongoing Justice for All (J4A) Programme was commissioned for operations on Friday 20 July 2012.

The event which took place at the Headquarters Complex of Nigerian Prisons Services, Independent Layout Enugu attracted stakeholders from the Justice and allied Sectors in Enugu State. Setting up more effective Case Management Unit has been described as one of the  major landmarks in the resolve of all stakeholders towards speeding up Criminal Justice System in Enugu State. Commissioning the facility which was equipped with latest Information and Communication Technology facilities , the Controller General  of Nigerian Prisons Services Mallam Zakari Ibrahim who was represented at the event by the Deputy Controller General in charge of Operations Alhaji Nuhu Zuru lauded the initiative of J4A and PRAWA to spearhead effort to Speed Up Criminal Justice System in Enugu. He said that the facility will go a long way to ease Case Management processes in the prisons. He pledged the support of NPS to the Justice for All [J4A] Programmes and promised that the prison authorities will replicate same facilities in all prisons command in Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the Commissioner  for Prison; Enugu State Elder Chris Ntewo urged the Prisons case Management staff to key into this process and ensure that it works. He called on other NGOs in the State to emulate PRAWA in the effort to enhance the welfare of prisoners in Nigeria. He particularly praised the unflinching  qualities of Dr. Uju Agomoh the Executive Director of PRAWA, whom he described as the friend of the Nigerian Prisons Services. He said that Enugu NPS is lucky to be the first beneficially of the J4A programme component on Case Management. He promised to use his office to ensure that the facilities are put to good use adding that henceforth the Nigerian Prisons Services Enugu Case Management processes will be greatly enhanced.

In her remarks Dr. Uju Agomoh lamented the neglect of many Nigerians to the issues of prisoners welfare. She said that there evidences that many things are not working well in the whole process of Criminal Justice delivery in Nigeria adding that our inability to act now to rectify them would continue to worsen the plight of prisoners in Nigeria because It could be anyone, she added. According to Dr. Agomoh, it is highly unacceptable for a reprimand prisoner to remain behind prison bars longer than necessary because many avoidable factors. In her words, it is not only against the spirit of universal human rights and human dignity  but also against God.

She highlighted the six areas mapped for reforms by the J4a Programmes saying that they include poor case management processes in the prisons. She urged all stakeholders to think about ways of sustaining the programme after DFID after to make the issue of speeding up criminal justice in the State a continuous and seamless process.

Mr Jeff Ansell the   Component Manager of J4A Programme in charge of Interventions reiterated the need for stakeholders to take the issue of speeding up criminal justice system in Nigeria serious. He reemphasized the fact that it is not only unjust to keep people longer than necessary in prisons without trials and without access to legal representations but also a huge economical loss to the nation. He said that the need to speed up criminal justice system in Nigeria is more now than ever because the country is going through several challenges. He urged the Nigerian authorities to develop strong political will to make criminal justice system smooth and hassle free.

Representatives of all the stakeholders and collaborating Agencies like the Nigerian Bar Association, Human Rights Commission, CIRJAP, Legal Aid Council  and other CSOs made their  remarks and pledged their support to the J4A programme in  Enugu State.

Meanwhile all the Case management Units staff of NPS in Nsukka, Oji River, Ibitolo and Enugu Prisons have been trained on how to use the new case management system. Similar trainings for the Records Units staff of NPS in all prisons in Enugu have commenced to step down skills for them on how to prepare a more effective Records and Control Movement Forms.