By Uchino Amatey
The Cross River State Attorney General, Mr Tanko Ashang has commended the Controller of Corrections, Cross River State Command for his developmental strides in the State Correctional Service.
Mr. Ashang gave the commendation while inspecting the level of work done at the State Correctional Service recently in Calabar.
He said the renovation of the Staff quarters and offices are a huge morale booster to personnel of the organization which, he said, will spur them to greater productivity.
In his words: “I thank you on behalf of my Ministry and the State for the transformation you are carrying out here. I know this is a federal project but it is adding value to the Cross River landscape. The renovation of the staff quarters and office spaces are highly commendable. Staff welfare is very important, one of the first component of welfare is accommodation, whether office or residential. The morale of your officers will be boosted due to this gesture.”
Stating that governance must be impactful, Mr Ashang noted that the Controller of Corrections has displayed capacity within his short stay in office.
While assuring the State Correctional Service of his Ministry’s cooperation in achieving its mandate, Mr. Ashang urged the Controller of Corrections to look into the practices of medical officers under the organization in regards to issuing medical reports for bail of inmates in order to prevent foul play and sharp practices.
According to him: “I am a rule of law lawyer, I like the proper things to be done. If you are entitled to be free and have satisfied the bail conditions, we will grant you bail. But what I would not stand for is when people circumvent the system I am supervising and I do not want them to do it to you.”
While thanking the Attorney General and his team for the visit, the Controller of Corrections, Cross River State Command, Rev. Ben-Rabbi Freeman listed some challenges faced by the State Correctional Service to include lack of operational vehicles, lack of Central Isolation Center, congested facilities, amongst others.
According to him “Calabar is already beyond its carrying capacity; this has been such a huge challenge. We need to decongest our facilities. Decongestion in the context of inmates who are not supposed to be in custody. Some of them who were arrested for minor offences have stayed longer than the period they would have served if convicted.”
Responding on the need to checkmate any illegal practices by staff of the Correctional Service, Rev-Freeman said, “Our doctors are well trained, I assure you that at all times we will try to do the right thing. I know in every system you have some bad eggs, the truth is that there are some who run foul of the law and they need to be sanctioned. So I will look into that matter very seriously, we will not condone any sharp practices.”
He maintained the State Correctional Service’s position on working closely with the State Government through the Ministry of Justice to the benefit of the State and its inhabitants.
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