Human Human rights lawyers have called on the federal government to incorporate compensation for those wrongfully imprisoned into Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Human rights lawyers argued that including such a provision would help deter unlawful convictions and protect innocent Nigerians from unjust imprisonment.

According to Nigerian Correctional Service statistics, of 84,011 inmates (male and female combined), 56,757 are still awaiting trial.

In percentage terms, only 32 percent of inmates have been convicted, so 68 percent have not yet been tried.

Human rights lawyer Victor Opatola identified the absence of a legal framework as a major obstacle to establishing compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

However, he stated that compensating people for wrongful imprisonment would encourage law enforcement agencies to be more thorough in their investigations and discourage misuse of the justice system for personal vendettas.

Opatola explained: “If a state imprisons a person and it turns out to be a wrongful conviction, requiring the state to pay substantial compensation would eventually lead them to examine their processes more carefully.”

Additionally, Opatola warned that people who have spent years in prison awaiting trial for crimes they did not commit may consider suing for malicious prosecution, a lesser-known option in Nigeria.

Furthermore, a senior partner at Malachy Odo & Partners, Mr. Malachy Odo, added that compensating those wrongfully imprisoned was crucial to addressing the injustice they suffered.

“Some of these inmates have been proven innocent and the Nigerian government should take the issue of compensation seriously.

“In other countries, the state compensates people for wrongful imprisonment, recognizing that years spent behind bars cannot be returned,” he added.