In a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, the President drew the CJN’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.
The President in the letter said from available records, the inmates population at various correctional centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons.
President Buhari said 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.
He appealed to the CJN to request State Chief Judges to embark on immediate visit to all custodial/correctional centres within their respective States to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already.
President Buhari said during the visit the Chief Judges are enjoined to consider conditional or unconditional release of ATPs who have spent six years or more in custody.
Also to be considered are ATPs who have no confirmed criminal cases against them, aged inmates and terminally ill as well as inmates convicted for minor offences with or without option of fines and inmates who have less than three years term left to serve having served a substantial term of their service for offences that attract five years and above.
President Buhari said a Report on the proposed visits is expected to be forwarded to the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion Secretariat in the Federal Ministry of Justice for compilation and onward transmission to his office.
He also suggested that the CJN should at this stage consider taking immediate steps as appropriate to ensure the setting up or designation of Special Courts in all States, including the FCT, to try cases of armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and other serious offences, in order to facilitate speedy trials.
Details of the President’s letter to the CJN were contained in a statement issued by his special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
