Section 19: Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
"Comptroller-General" means the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service;
"function" includes power and duty;
"medical officer" in relation to a prison, means a person directed under section 12 of this Act to perform the functions of medical officer in respect of that prison;
"Minister" means the Minister of Internal Affairs;
''prison'' means a prison declared under this Act;
"prison officer" means an officer of whatever rank appointed pursuant to section 1 of this Act;
"prisoner" means any person lawfully committed to custody;
"sentence of imprisonment" means any sentence involving confinement in a prison (whether or not it is combined with labour of any kind) and includes a sentence given by way of commutation as well as an original sentence passed by a court;
"State" means a State of the Federation:
"State Authority" means the Governor of a State and "The State Authority", in relation to a particular State or a prison therein, means the appropriate State Authority;
"superintendent" in relation to a prison or to a prisoner confined in a prison, means the prison officer or other person for the time being in charge of the prison.
(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, a reference in this Act to a numbered section or Schedule is a reference to the section or Schedule so numbered in this Act.