PRE PRISONS' VISIT WORKSHOP 2014

Event Photos
                                 Pic 1: Clinic Coordinator, Dr. Sam Erugo delivering the keynote address

Pic: Guest Speaker, Ukwuori N. Kalu, Comptroller of Prisons, Abia State Command

Pics 3: Mr. Emelue J.C, Deputy. Comptroller, Okigwe Prisons addressing participants 

Pics 4: A cross section of Law Students

The ABSU Prison/Pre-Trial Detainee Law Clinic held its 2014 Pre Prisons' Visit Workshop on the 15th day of May 2014 heralding the 2014 Prisons Services Clinic session and programmes. The Workshop held at the Faculty of Law Complex, Abia State University, Uturu with the active participation of students in the organization of the workshop sessions. 

The Objectives of the Workshop include:
• To sensitize the students, stakeholders, Faculty and Community on the ABSU Prison/Pre-Trial Detainee Law Clinic programmes generally;
• To bring together and elicit the cooperation of all stakeholders for the Prison projects;
• To identity the rules of prison visits, interviews and reporting (for Pre-trial Detainees, Prisons’ Street Law and Prisons Reform and Advocacy Units)
• To train students to understand the nature of Prisons service work, applicable rules and legal instruments; 
• To prepare the students adequately to conduct prison visits and interviews at Okigwe, Umuahia and Aba Prisons for purposes of legal aid and or advocacy;
• To identify and list the legal needs of all categories of prisoners;
• To identify the available legal aid facilities presently available to the prisoners;
• To train students to successfully conduct live interviews and be in a position to counsel and render services to the prisoners;
• To train students to prepare lesson plans and to teach citizens’ rights, including Prisoners’ rights.
The Workshop Outcomes were to enable the students:
• Discuss the scope of the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria as it relates to Prisons;
• Explain the scope of applicable Human Rights Instruments in Nigerian Prisons and the work of the Legal Aid Providers in Prisons;
• Explain the rules and ethics of prison visits;
• Identify some guidelines (including the Rules of Professional Conduct and Ethics) for Client Interviewing and Counseling as it relates to pre-trial detainees;
• Conduct an effective interview and counseling for a pre-trial detainee;
• Conduct an effective group interview in the prisons;
• Prepare lesson plan, and conduct an effective teaching on Prisoners’ and other rights;
• Analyze and find solutions to problems arising from information received from the Pre Trial Interviews.
• To render legal assistance, or refer deserving prisoners for legal aid/assistance


The Workshop had in attendance, Clinic Coordinator Dr Sam Erugo, Clinic Supervisors, Dr E C Ngwakwe,Mrs Chizoba Okpara, Mrs Ukwuori N. Kalu Comptroller of Prisons Umuahia, Mr Emelue J. C. Deputy Comptroller of Prisons Okigwe, Mrs Cordelia Ichie - FIDA, Clinicians and the Faculty. 

The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Sam Erugo, Coordinator of the Clinic and that set the tone for the workshop.The Prison comptrollers delivered talks to the students on the Prisons generally and specially on Prisons, prisons’ visit rules and practices.The guest speaker, Mrs. Ukwuori N. Kalu, the Comptroller of Prisons, Abia State Command, Umuahia, delivered an incisive paper on the “The Nigeria Prison Service-its history, relevance and the ethics of visiting the Prisons”.  Mr Emelue J. C. Deputy Comptroller, Okigwe Prisons, also talked to the participants. They both pledged their support for the Prisons Services Clinic. The Workshop presentations were interactive.

Topics presented at the workshop included

• The Role of Nigerian Prison Services in Facilitating Access to Justice to Pre-trial Detainees; Comptroller of Prisons Umuahia
• The Law Clinic, the prisons and the Rights of pre-trial Detainees under the Nigerian Criminal Justice System; Deputy Comptroller of Prisons Okigwe
• Problem of Holding Charge Syndrome: The Office the DPP as the way forward; DPP, Umuahia
• The Role of Police in Facilitating Quick Dispensation of Justice under Nigerian Criminal Justice System; office of the DPO Isuikwuato Division
• Attitude of Superior Court of Record in Exercise of Discretionary Powers in Granting bail to Pre-trial Detainees on Remand Order by Magistrate Court for want of Jurisdiction; Chief Judge, Imo State.
• The Relevance of Interview and Counseling in Prison Visits; Barr Emeka Okorafor

The Workshop was concluded with much fanfare and enthusiasm with Mr. Emelue J.C. Deputy Comptroller of Prisons Okigwe raising the roof with an articulate and concise prayer appealing for more light to be shed on our legal psyches to enable those in attendance to rise up to the challenges facing the legal profession in this present day which was heavily assented to with a resounding amen by the students in attendance.