The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has called for a reassessment of the Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s plan to pay the N500 million fine of at least 4,000 prisoners housed in detention facilities throughout the 36 States of the nation.
The group expressed its opinions in a statement issued by its chairman, Femi Falana, who said that while the project is commendable, the funds ought to be used to improve the condition of prisoners housed in correctional facilities.
Falana stated that several decongestion strategies should be taken into account.
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“While the Interior Minister deserves commendation for the initiative, we are compelled to call for a review of the plan. The N500 million earmarked for payment of fines should be spent on the welfare of inmates in the correctional centers while alternative decongestion policies are considered,” he said.
Falana continued by pleading with the minister to ask the president and governors to exercise their constitutional rights to pardon the 4000 criminals.
“Specifically, the Minister should request the President and the various state Governors to exercise their prerogative of mercy by granting pardon to the 4,000 convicts on grounds of impecuniosity to facilitate their immediate release from custody.
“It is on record that the federal government had released 7,813 inmates from the Nigeria Correctional Centers across the country during the outbreak of COVID-19 to curb the spread of the virus among inmates. The convicts and awaiting trial inmates were granted amnesty and released on the orders of former President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the prison decongestion policy of the Federal Government.
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“The Minister may also wish to request the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chief Judges of all the States and the Federal Capital Territory to visit the correctional centres and exercise their powers under the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act by ordering the release of all inmates whose detention is either manifestly unlawful; or who have been in custody, whether on remand or otherwise, for periods longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which they could have served had they been convicted of the offences in respect of which they are detained,” he added.
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