Days after moving to Lagos, Babagana Aliyu was arrested.
He spent the next 8 years in prison, waiting for his case to be heard.
He is not alone.
68% of inmates in 🇳🇬 prisons are awaiting trial.
Full vid: bbc.in/36vVzDR
Produced by me
🎥 @josh_akinyemi
He spent the next 8 years in prison, waiting for his case to be heard.
He is not alone.
68% of inmates in 🇳🇬 prisons are awaiting trial.
Full vid: bbc.in/36vVzDR
Produced by me
🎥 @josh_akinyemi
@josh_akinyemi I wanted to do this story after a visit to Kiri Kiri a few years ago.
A handful of the inmates were wearing prison uniforms, most were in ordinary clothes.
It was my first time in a Naira prison so I assumed it was just Naija anyhowness or a budget issue.
So I asked a guard.
A handful of the inmates were wearing prison uniforms, most were in ordinary clothes.
It was my first time in a Naira prison so I assumed it was just Naija anyhowness or a budget issue.
So I asked a guard.
@josh_akinyemi He told me, the men in uniforms had been convicted and those in ordinary clothes hadn’t.
I was surprised.
The vast majority of men were in ordinary clothes, and by
vast majority I mean it was essentially a case of ‘spot the man in uniform.’
I was surprised.
The vast majority of men were in ordinary clothes, and by
vast majority I mean it was essentially a case of ‘spot the man in uniform.’
@josh_akinyemi It was troubling knowing there were so many people, potentially innocent, being denied a fair hearing.
I got talking to a man wearing ordinary clothes.
I asked him how long he’d been in prison for and he said 6 years.
I got talking to a man wearing ordinary clothes.
I asked him how long he’d been in prison for and he said 6 years.
@josh_akinyemi I asked if he’d been convicted and he said no, he was still waiting for his case to be heard.
He said he was hopeful he’d get a date soon, but until then he was focused on gaining skills.
He'd taken some vocational training and was taking each day at a time.
He said he was hopeful he’d get a date soon, but until then he was focused on gaining skills.
He'd taken some vocational training and was taking each day at a time.
@josh_akinyemi After I left, I did some more reading around the subject.
Alongside overcrowding, the issue of 'awaiting trial inmates' (as they're known) has been long-standing.
I met with @ADEKAHMED, the Executive Director of PRAI, who has worked on dozens of cases like this.
Alongside overcrowding, the issue of 'awaiting trial inmates' (as they're known) has been long-standing.
I met with @ADEKAHMED, the Executive Director of PRAI, who has worked on dozens of cases like this.
@josh_akinyemi @ADEKAHMED Babagana spent 8 years inside, some people have spent more, others less.
Babagana described some of the difficulties he faced in prison, but says he found solace in his faith.
Babagana described some of the difficulties he faced in prison, but says he found solace in his faith.
@josh_akinyemi @ADEKAHMED While Babagana was in prison his hometown was ravaged by Boko Haram.
His fathers whereabouts are currently unknown, his mother and sisters fled to Cameroon.
He is still in touch with them and hopes one day they will be reunited.
His fathers whereabouts are currently unknown, his mother and sisters fled to Cameroon.
He is still in touch with them and hopes one day they will be reunited.
There are thousands of Nigerians across the country in the same position.
Indiscriminate arrests, too few magistrates and the slow dispensation of justice have been cited as reasons why.
Indiscriminate arrests, too few magistrates and the slow dispensation of justice have been cited as reasons why.
