Section 19: Prison monitoring and review of cases of awaiting trial inmates.

(1) The Council shall, from time to time, conduct inspection of prisons, police cells and other places where suspected persons are held in order to assess the circumstances under which such persons are detained.
(2) It shall be the duty of all police officers and courts to inform suspected person of his entitlement to the services of a legal practitioner from the moment of arrest and if such suspect cannot afford the services of a legal practitioner to notify the Council to represent him if he so desires.
(3) The Council and the lawyers designated by it shall be entitled to have access to and interview suspects detained in prisons, police stations, or any other places of detention in Nigeria and such designated lawyers shall be entitled to be present during the interrogation of the suspects in accordance with the rights guaranteed to suspects under the Constitution.
(4) The Council shall regularly liaise with the Judiciary, Attorney-General of the Federation or of any State, the Department of Public Prosecution, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioners of Police, Prison Authority or other agencies as may be appropriate, in order to avoid unnecessary delay in the prosecution of cases.
(5) The Council may file an application in any appropriate court for the review of the case of any person who has been held in any place of custody without trial for a period exceeding the maximum provided by the Constitution.