The Alliance for Justice, Advocacy and Humanitarian Foundation, AHAJF, on Wednesday, raised concerns over the continued congestion of the nation’s prison system with presumed innocent inmates.
President of AHAJF, Dr Martins Itumoh raised the issues during an advocacy visit to the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Samson Nwafor at Dr Sam Egwu press centre, Abakaliki, the state capital.
He said the association was ready to collaborate with relevant organizations including the NUJ to get justice for those who are behind bars for the offences they did not commit.
“Our prisons, especially in developing countries, are populated with innocent people.
“Even abroad yes, you have people who are innocent and they are in prison but the proportion of innocent people in prison is significantly higher in Africa and I think that it is why Jesus said that if people who deserve to be in prison and they are not, they will cause more trouble and other people will lose their lives.
“There are people that are behind bars for a reason that is not the right reason and these are the people we also hope to come to their aid and do whatever we can to give them support.
“When they are behind bars and we are praying, the only way God will respond to that prayer is if there are people outside that will come to their aid.
The group’s Director of Operations, Monday Eze expressed dismay over the alleged extortions of people of Ebonyi State and arbitrary charges by some agencies in the state to render services that are supposed to be free to the people.
He noted that the group has written to the state government for partnership to enable it to hold some agencies in the state accountable.
He said, “In Ebonyi, people are still asked to pay for light prepaid meters, estimated billing is also done in Ebonyi State and we don’t want it because these are the ways Ebonyi people are shortchanged”.
Receiving the group, the NUJ Chairman, Samson Nwafor commended them for taking the bold decision to advocate for people who don’t have the wherewithal to advocate for themselves.
He opined that the job of the group is like that of journalists who render free services to society and assured that the NUJ and the group will collaborate for humanitarian services to better the state and the country.