The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond, ASCAB, has called for a review of the plan of the Minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to pay off the fine of N500m of not less than 4,000 convicts in correctional centers across the 36 States of the country.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of ASCAB, Femi Falana, it was stated that while the initiative deserves commendation, the money should be spent on the welfare of inmates in the correctional centers while alternative decongestion policies are considered.
“While the Interior Minister deserves commendation for the initiative, we are compelled to call for a review of the plan. The N500 million earmarked for payment of fines should be spent on the welfare of inmates in the correctional centers while alternative decongestion policies are considered.”
Falana also urged the minister to request that the President and Governors should use their right of authority to grant pardon to the 4000 convicts.
“Specifically, the Minister should request the President and the various state Governors to exercise their prerogative of mercy by granting pardon to the 4,000 convicts on grounds of impecuniosity to facilitate their immediate release from custody.
“It is on record that the federal government had released 7,813 inmates from the Nigeria Correctional Centers across the country during the outbreak of COVID-19 to curb the spread of the virus among inmates. The convicts and awaiting trial inmates were granted amnesty and released on the orders of former President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the prison decongestion policy of the Federal Government.
“The Minister may also wish to request the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chief Judges of all the States and the Federal Capital Territory to visit the correctional centres and exercise their powers under the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act by ordering the release of all inmates whose detention is either manifestly unlawful; or who have been in custody, whether on remand or otherwise, for periods longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which they could have served had they been convicted of the offences in respect of which they are detained.”
The statement however, also called the attention of the Interior Minister to the plight of the scores of inmates in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre as their case files were destroyed when the Magistrate Court and High Court buildings were burnt during the #endsars protests in October 2020.
“As the nation marks the third-year anniversary of the #endsars protests, we urge the Interior Minister to ensure the immediate release of the scores of inmates who are languishing in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre as their case files were destroyed when the Magistrate Court and High Court buildings were burnt during the #endsars protests in October 2020 since the State can no longer prosecute them as their cases have been burnt.”
Chioma Kalu
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