Newly promoted Controller of Prisons, Zone E, Malachy Ohakosim, has blamed the high rate of condemned inmates in Nigerian prisons on problem of human rights.
Speaking shortly after being decorated with the new rank in Owerri, Imo State, Ohakosim, who was Deputy Controller of Prisons, Zone E Headquarters, Owerri, disclosed to National Mirror that the issue of human rights was creating serious hindrance to execution of condemned inmates.
“If you count condemned inmates in the prisons, you will find it much higher than you can imagine; this is because of human right issues, the human right activists feel it is not worthwhile killing condemned inmates,” he said.
Ohakosim, who was among 18 controllers promoted, however, advocated skill acquisition for condemned inmates if their execution could not be carried out.
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By so doing, he said the inmates could contribute to prisons development and be useful citizens, adding that their lives could also be reformed through acquiring such skills.
He also said there was no point comparing prison development in Nigeria with what obtains in developed nations “because they have more advanced facilities than there are in this country; we are only trying to imitate them.”
He expressed gratitude to God for making his promotion possible. “Of the 95 people that faced the promotion panel, I was the only person from the South South and South East that was favoured. “With this promotion, I can now head a state command.
If I am given opportunity to head a state command, I will change the lifestyle in prison service. I intend to raise the standard of prison reformation and operational standards,” he assured.(nationalmirroronline)
