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President Muhammadu Buhari has sought urgent measures to speed up trial of cases and decongestion of correctional centres in the country in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, the President drew attention to the recent call by the United Nations on all countries to consciously reduce the population of inmates in prisons since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions were practically impossible.
He said, “From available records, the inmates population at various penal centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs).
“Most of these centres presently house inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and members of the public in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control.
“In view of the above scenario, the President said it had become imperative for the CJN to request state chief Judges to embark on an immediate visit to all correctional centres in their respective states to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already.”
He noted that during such visits, 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.
