DICKSON IDENTIFIES DEARTH OF FACILITIES AS BANE IN JUDICIAL PROCESS

29/04/2013
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has identified the absence of non-functional prison services as one of the factors militating against the quick dispensation of justice in the Country.
 
This is just as he tasked the Federal Government; Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on employment generation.
 
Receiving the visiting Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, in his office on Monday, the Governor blamed the delay in dispensation of justice and congestion of the prisons across the country on inadequate facilities.
 
Assuring the visiting Minister of his administration’s support, Hon. Dickson stated that the presence of a functional Prisons Service in the state g to a large extent, ensure the speedy administration of justice, especially in the aspect of criminal justice as well as reduce the cost of litigation.
 
 According to him, “the delay in the dispensation of justice to inmates of the state was occasioned by the absence of a Federal prisons in the state as its indigenes had to be transferred to the Ahoada Prisons in Rivers State which posed challenges for litigation and transportation.”
 
Without a Federal Prison, the infrastructure of a justice administration system particularly that of the criminal justice system is not complete and we in Bayelsa, over the years have that problem so I want to thank the Federal Government for the decision to establish a Federal Prison here.
 
Before now, as you rightly said, all our Awaiting Trial Inmates, all those who have to be detained or kept in custody for one reason or the other are usually taken to other places of detention outside Bayelsa State. That meant a lot of inconvenience and cost to them and their relations as well as created a lot of problems for their legal representatives.”     
                 
He affirmed that the state government’s collaboration with the Federal Government to establish the Prisons Service was informed by the need to provide a humane and comfortable environment for those awaiting trial, considering the fact that the Prisons is basically a place for rehabilitation, stressing that the business of security is the collective responsibility of all.  
 
 To this end, Governor Dickson urged other state governments to join forces with the Federal Government in enhancing security and not maintain a hard line about infrastructures that are of the Federal Government since such structures were for the benefits of the citizens of the state.
 
While assuring the Nigeria Prisons of more logistic support, the Governor implored the Minister of Interior to absorb Bayelsans in its various agencies toward reducing the problem of unemployment in the state.   
 Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro who was in the state to commission the Federal Prison, gave a thumbs up to Governor Dickson for the giant strides made in the development of the state particularly in promoting good governance.
 
 The Minister described as unacceptable the absence a federal prison in Bayelsa, the home state of the President pointing out that the establishment of the state command would go a long way in addressing the problems of litigation.
 
Comrade Moro also suggested to Governor Dickson to undertake regular visits to the prison to grant prerogative of mercy to inmates who are deserving of such pardon as well establish alternative ways of punishment rather than imprisonment in order to help decongest the prison.      
 
  Bayelsa state prison now has a full fledged command like any other state, while we will continue to provide for the logistics, vehicles for the transportation of inmates in the quest to access justice, there is a lot of expectation and challenge arising from the transfer of Bayelsa inmates to this place. I, therefore request provision of additional vehicles.