The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has written to governors of all the 36 states of the country drawing their attention to President Muhamamdu Buhari’s approval and authorization for urgent measures to be taken towards the speedy decongestion of correction centres in the country In view of the Coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic.
Titled “urgent need for speedy decongestion of correction centres” and dated April 9th 2020, the minister said available records indicated that the inmate population at the various custodial centres across the country presently stood at 74,127 out of which 52,226 inmates were awaiting trial persons (ATPs). He said most of the centres were housing inmates beyond their capacities.
A statement issued on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Malami said the development was a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general.
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He urged 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 correction centres within their respective States to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already,” the letter reads in part.
The Attorney-General explained that at the requested visit, the chief judges were enjoined to consider conditional or unconditional release of ATPs who had spent 6 years or more in custody.
According to the minister, other inmates to 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”.
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The minister informed the governors that President Buhari had 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”.
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