From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
A women group, under the aegis of Standup for Women Society ,SWS, Bayelsa State Chapter, at the weekend concern over the conditions of awaiting trial female inmates at Okaka Medium Correctional Center Yenagoa, calling for a speedy trial of the affected persons.
The group while on visit to donate food items, beverages and, toiletries as part of its activities to touch lives of indigent and the vulnerable in the society, observed that it was unfortunate to see that some of the inmates have have been kept in the prisons unnecessarily without trial.
Chairperson of SWS, Lady Eunice Nnachi, who led other members of the group to the correction center, called on the state judiciary and other relevant authorities involved in prosecution to speed up the trial process of the inmates to ensure that justice is served.
Nnachi said, “Today we visited the Yenagoa Prisons to reach out to the inmates particularly the females and interact with them to see areas where we can help, we shedded tears when we heard their pathetic stories. Some of them have been here for two years and more still awaiting trials, while others don’t even know why they are incarcerated. Some of them are here not because they committed any crime but are just victimised simply because they are poor.
“We are calling on the state governor to consider some of them for pardon, we are also calling on the judiciary and the entire justice system to carry out speedy trial for these inmates particularly those who have been kept here for so long without trial because justice delayed is justice denied.”
Also speaking the South South Zonal Coordinator of SWS, Timinipre Jombo, said the essence of the visit is to identify with the female inmates, adding that as an organization, it’s objective is to identifying with women and children in the society, standing up for women, advocating policies that will better the lives of women in the society.
