Falana asks court to compel FG to provide CCTV, double-perimeter walls in prisons

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the court to compel the federal government to provide closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the country’s correctional centres.

In a suit filed at the federal high court sitting in Lagos, Falana also asked the court to order the federal government to “fully comply” with the provisions of the section 28, subsection 1-3 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019.

Section 28 of the act states: “(1) There shall be provided monitoring devices to protect, control and safeguard correctional activities, including observatory towers, double perimeter walls, close circuit television, body scanners, e-monitoring devices, electrically activated alarm systems and other instruments of restraint.

“(2) The Correctional Service shall establish and maintain a fully equipped armed squads, intelligence and investigation unit to enhance security, surveillance, monitoring, intelligence gathering and protection.

“(3) In deploying the facilities under subsection (1), priority shall be given to the security requirements of maximum security custodial centres.”

Other defendants in the suit are the national assembly and the controller-general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

According to the court document, Falana is also seeking an order to compel the government to provide double-perimeter walls and e-monitoring devices at the correctional centres.

“A declaration that by virtue of section 28 (1), (2) & (3) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, the defendants are under a legal obligation to: provide monitoring devices to protect, control and safeguard correctional activities, including observatory towers, double perimeter walls, close circuit television, body scanners, e-monitoring devices, electrically activated alarm systems and other instruments of restraint,” the document reads.

“Establish and maintain a fully equipped armed squad, intelligence and investigation unit to enhance security, surveillance, monitoring, intelligence gathering and protection.

“Give priority to the security requirements of maximum-security custodial centers in deploying the facilities under subsection (1).

“An order of this Honourable Court directing the defendants to fully comply with the provisions of Section 28 (1), (2) & (3) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act.”

On July 5, gunmen attacked the correctional facility in Kuje, federal capital territory (FCT), leading to the escape of hundreds of inmates, including suspected Boko Haram members.

Some days later, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) “claimed responsibility” for the attack.

TheCable, in a report highlighting attacks on correctional facilities over the last seven years, found that Nigeria has witnessed 14 jailbreaks under the present administration.