Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has written to Governors of all the 36 states of the federation drawing their attention to President Buhari’s approval and authorization for urgent measures to be taken towards the speedy decongestion of correctional/custodial centres in the country in view of the COVID – 19 pandemics.
This is contained in a statement by Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, issued to journalists in Abuja on Friday 10th April 2020.
In the letter dated April 9, 2020, titled “urgent need for speedy decongestion of custodial centres”, Malami asked the state governors to consider the conditional or unconditional release of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) who have spent 6 years or more in custody, requesting that ATPs who have spent six years or more in custody and those who have no confirmed criminal cases against them.
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Other qualified inmates according to the Minister, including the aged, those with terminal illnesses, low-risk offenders, those with no sufficient legal basis to remain in custody, convicts of minor offences with or without the 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 the option of fine, who are in custody because of their inability to pay such fines”.
Available records indicate that the 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 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.
The Minister notified the Governors that President Muhamadu 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”.
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Harrison Edeh, Abuja
