CAPIO - Advocates for Human Rights of Prisoners
- SitiTalkBlog
- Jun 26, 2016
- 4 min read
Human rights for prisoners is not a common theme in the mainstream of most societies. In Nigeria as in most African countries, the rights of prisoners are routinely trampled. Therefore, the work of the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO), a not-for-profit organization that advocates for human rights of prisoners and prison reforms in Nigeria, is very crucial.
Photo credit: Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, OCD, CAPIO
CAPIO interventions run by its Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, OCD, focus on the provision of basic needs of prisoners, free legal and medical services and rehabilitation of prisoners; in cooperation with the government and other Human Rights organizations. CAPIO was established in 1992 but was eventually incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2003.
Fr. Ambrose is a Catholic Priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He has worked as Prison Chaplain in Enugu State, Nigeria and Executive Director of Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) since 2011.
Fr. Ambrose is passionate about respect for human rights and dignity of socially excluded persons especially prisoners. He aims to contribute towards a fair and safe society for all through advocacy for crime prevention, efficient administration of Criminal Justice, reintegration of ex-offenders, rehabilitation and compensation of victims of crime and the abolition of the death penalty. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Dominican Institute (Affiliated to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria) and was ordained a priest in 2011.
The organization has a track record of achievement in the various program areas including Social welfare, medical services, legal assistance, rehabilitation services and advocacy. Highlights of some of the achievements are as follows:
Relief for Victims of Crime:
CAPIO partnered with other Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) to advocate for expedited government action to prevent repeated attacks on innocent citizens by Fulani Herdsmen in Enugu State.
CAPIO helped resettle the victims of Fulani Herdsmen attacks at Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State through donations of relief materials in May/June, 2016
Rehabilitation of Offenders:
CAPIO partnered with Ola Ndi Igbo to provide free university Education for seven (7) inmates at the Maximum Security Prison, Enugu in February, 2016.
CAPIO enrolled 11 inmates into programmes of the National Open University in July, 2014.CAPIO provided free study material including white board, markers, tables, seats and sewing machine to help inmates prepare for O’ level examinations at the Medium Security Prison Oji-River in December, 2014.
Legal Assistance:
CAPIO partnered with other Human Rights Organizations to facilitate a Jail Delivery Exercise in three (3) prisons in Enugu State in March, 2016.
In the past two (2) years, CAPIO has been responsible for the release of nine (9) inmates who were detained wrongly.
CAPIO’s legal team is currently providing legal services to fifty (50) indigent inmates for free.
Advocacy:
CAPIO conducted a Needs Assessment of the Nigerian Prisons System in collaboration with National Human Rights Commission and the Nigerian Prisons System in November 2015.
CAPIO’s advocacy efforts resulted in the rehabilitation of the Prison Farm Centre, Ibite-Olo in Enugu State through the intervention of Central Bank of Nigeria Staff in June 2015. This was the first renovation of the detention facility since it was constructed in 1972.
CAPIO took to court a bulk fundamental human rights application to facilitate the release of seven hundred and ninety six persons who have been in prison custody without any trial for periods ranging between twelve months and eight years (FHC/EN/M/17/2014 Solomon Ede Okafor & 795 ors vs Attorney General of Enugu State & 3 ors) in January, 2014.
Prisoners’ Welfare:
CAPIO facilitated the provision of daily supply of five thousand (5000) gallons of potable water to inmates of the Medium Security Prison Oji-River through the rehabilitation of a borehole, provision of alternative storage tanks near the cells and pipe-borne water to the cells and bathrooms in July 2014.
CAPIO conducts parties for inmates during Christmas and Easter in various prisons. Christmas Parties at the Maximum Security Prison Enugu is organized in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Enugu with the Bishop always present (… - 2015).
Relief materials including clothing, beddings, sanitary materials, Baby materials and food items are donated continuously through the year as the need arises.
CAPIO has successfully set up underground water system for Enugu prison and as such inmates have access to clean water. This underground water storage system was constructed in 1993.
Medical Services:
CAPIO’s medical team comprising of Physicians, Ophthalmologists, Pharmacists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, and Psychiatrists among other specialists, conduct medical outreaches to select prisons to provide basic/specialist care to inmates. Health education is always provided alongside donation of drugs to the prison clinic.
CAPIO continues to champion dialogue on Prison reform. On 17 November 2015 at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, the Prison Reform Conference on the State of Prisons in Nigeria was held. The conference was convened by Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organization and facilitated by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in partnership with the Nigerian Prisons Service and with the technical support of the Legal Resources Consortium and the First Global Consultancy and Training Limited. Click for the Conference Report.
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About Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, OCD
Fr. Ambrose Ekeroku, OCD was born on 7th December 1976. He is a Catholic Priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He has worked as Prison Chaplain in Enugu State, Nigeria and Executive Director of Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) since 2011.
Fr. Ambrose is passionate about respect for human rights and dignity of socially excluded persons especially prisoners. He aims to contribute towards a fair and safe society for all through advocacy for crime prevention, efficient administration of Criminal Justice, reintegration of ex-offenders, rehabilitation and compensation of victims of crime and the abolition of the death penalty.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Dominican Institute (Affiliated to the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria) and was ordained a priest in 2011.
Contact: ambroseocd AT capiong.org
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