Analysis of Human Rights Violations of Awaiting-Trial Inmates in Nigeria
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Date
2024-12
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Lead City University, Ibadan
Abstract
The issue of the dignity of the human person was first foregrounded by ancient Stoic philosophers who argued extensively that the human person has an ontological worth which is constituted by the power of reason. In promoting this ontological worth, various legal documents have been compiled. The most universally accepted among them is the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which articulates the dignity and rights of all members of the human family. Given the foregoing, this research examines the extent to which Awaiting-Trial Inmates (ATIs) in Nigeria enjoy their rights as spelt out by the international instruments and local laws, where violations occur, the kinds of violation they suffer from, and the trends and motivating factors for the violations. Its institutional scope revolves around Kirikiri, Jos, Abakaliki, Kano and Katsina Correction Centres. This research adopts the Classical Marxian Theory as a frame of reference. It adopts the doctrinal and empirical methods to achieve the desired goal of addressing the pervasive violations of ATIs’ rights. Its findings show that most Awaiting-Trial Inmates were victims of arbitrary arrests and detention; young, poor, uneducated, unemployed, held for property offences; and unable to afford legal representation. Also, the police, courts and correctional institutions were responsible for the bulk of their problems, and there were correlates and costs of and remedies against human rights violations. Based on its findings, the research argues for the reformation of the society especially the police, courts and correctional institutions which would address the ugly state of affairs in the criminal justice system. This will ensure the emergence of a responsive and dependable justice system in the interest of the common people rather than the economic and power elite in Nigeria.
Keywords: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Awaiting-Trial Inmates, Correctional Institutions, Human Rights, Violations
Word Count: 300
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Keywords
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Awaiting-Trial Inmates, Correctional Institutions, Human Rights, Violations
Citation
Kate Turabia