International Law and the Prohibition of Torture: Evaluating Conditions in Nigerian Police Detention Facilities

This paper evaluates conditions in Nigerian police detention facilities against the standards established by the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and other international human rights instruments prohibiting torture and inhuman treatment. Nigeria ratified UNCAT in 2001, committing to prevent torture, investigate allegations, prosecute perpetrators, and provide remedies for victims. The research employs a descriptive methodology, drawing on reports from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, and legal aid organisations that have documented conditions in police cells across states including Lagos, Kano, Enugu, and Plateau. It examines the legal framework for police detention in Nigeria, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, and evaluates whether its provisions are consistently applied in practice. Findings reveal pervasive overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, denial of access to legal counsel, and documented use of torture during interrogation in several facilities. The paper also critically analyses the effectiveness of the Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission as accountability mechanisms for torture complaints. It identifies structural deficiencies including inadequate police welfare provisions and the normalisation of coercive investigation methods. Recommendations include mandatory recording of all detentions, independent inspection of detention facilities, enhanced disciplinary procedures for officers implicated in torture, and expansion of legal aid services for detainees. Keywords: UNCAT, torture, police detention, Nigeria, human rights.