News
COVID-19: Buhari Calls For Speedy Trial Of Cases To Decongest Prisons
The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad to take urgent measures towards ensuring the speedy trial of cases and decongestion of custodial centres in the country in view of Covid-19 pandemic.
This call was made in a letter signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina to the Chief Justice on Tuesday.
The President drew Muhamma’s attention to the recent call by the United Nations on all countries “to consciously reduce the population of prison inmates since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible.”
“From available records, the inmates population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs).
Read Also: Man On Life Sentence, 44 Years In Prison For Murder Dies Of Coronavirus Three Weeks To His Release
“Most of these custodial centres are presently housing inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control,” Buhari said.
The President ordered the Chief Justice to immediately request the State Chief Judges to visit to all custodial/correctional centres in their respective states to identify and release deserving inmates.
He noted that “the Chief Judges are enjoined to consider conditional or unconditional release of ATPs who have spent 6 years or more in custody. ATPs who have no confirmed criminal cases against them, aged inmates and terminally ill may be discharged.
“It is expected that particular attention should be on the aged, those with health issues, low risk offenders, those with no sufficient legal basis to remain in custody, inmates convicted for minor offences with or without option of fines and inmates who have less than 3 years term left to serve having served a substantial term of their service for offences that attract 5 years and above.
“Payment of fines may be made in favour of inmates convicted of lesser offences with option of fine, who are in custody because of their inability to pay such fines.”
President Buhari added that a report on the proposed visits was expected to be forwarded to the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion Secretariat, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja for compilation and onward transmission to his office.
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
