Malami seeks Govs assistance to decongest custodial centres
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has written to Governors of all the 36 states of the federation soliciting their assistance to decongest custodial centres in their respective states to avoid an outbreak of Covid-19.
Malami said that President Muhamamdu Buhari has given approval and authorisation for urgent measures to be taken towards the speedy decongestion of correctional/custodial centres in the country in view of the COVID – 19 pandemic.
In a statement signed by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, an aide to AGF in the letter titled, “Urgent need for speedy decongestion of custodial centres,” Malami expressed deep concern over the number of inmates in the custodial centres.
He stated “that from available records, the inmate population at the various custodial centres across the country presently stands at 74,127 out of which 52,226 inmates are awaiting trial persons (ATPs), adding that most of these centres are presently housing inmates beyond their capacities.
Malami said the development poses 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.
“In light of the above, Mr. President requests all Executive Governors to request their State Chief Judges to embark on visits to all correctional/custodial centres within their respective states to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already,” he stated.
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The Attorney-General explained that at the requested visit, the Chief Judges are enjoined to consider conditional or unconditional release of ATPs who have spent 6 years or more in custody and those who have no confirmed criminal cases against them.
According to the Minister, other inmates that should be considered include the aged, those with terminal illness, low risk offenders, those with no sufficient legal basis to remain in custody, convicts of minor offences with or without option of fines and those who have less than 3 years term left to serve having served a substantial term of their jail term for offences that attract 5 years and above.
Malami also demanded that “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”.
The Minister also said that President Buhari has approved that “State Governors should at this stage, take measures to facilitate the setting of their respective State Prerogative of Mercy Committees in order to recommend deserving cases for release on grounds of pardon or clemency in line with Constitutional provisions”.
