Seadogs Partners Ncc On Prison

The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, Ash Montana Deck, has partnered with the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service to help decongest prisons across the state.

The group announced this during a courtesy visit on Monday to the Command’s headquarters in Abeokuta. The delegation, led by Second Mate and Head of Programmes Emmanuel Eromonsele, said the visit was part of NAS activities ahead of this year’s World Human Rights Day.

Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Kamarudeen Adesina, raised concern over severe overcrowding, revealing that facilities designed for 700 awaiting-trial inmates are now housing about 4,000. He welcomed NAS’s plan to help pay fines for inmates convicted of minor offences. Adesina added that the Command lacks offices in the state’s 20 local government areas and appealed for support in providing basic office equipment.

“It is encouraging that groups like yours are willing to help inmates with minor offences settle their fines. We also need assistance with office facilities in this digital age,” he said. Adesina called on NAS to help mobilise corporate organisations and individuals to donate equipment and support advocacy for non-custodial sentencing, such as community service, for minor offences. According to him, this would keep petty offenders from being influenced by hardened criminals.

Eromonsele explained that NAS chose to focus on prison decongestion as part of its human rights advocacy work to mark World Human Rights Day. He noted that the organisation is working with the Nigerian Bar Association, the Correctional Service, and other partners to address the crisis.

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“As a social and human rights advocacy organisation with consultative status at the United Nations, we are deeply concerned about the overwhelming congestion in correctional centres. Even freeing a small number of inmates can make a difference,” he said.

He added that NAS is ready to rally support from other groups to help the state’s correctional centres achieve their goals.