TUE, APRIL 21 2020-theG&BJournal- President Muhammadu Buhari has asked courts in the country to clear their desk of pending cases and the custodial centres to be decongested in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
The president drew the attention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko through a letter, 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’’
According to the President, ‘’from available records, the inmates population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74, 127 out of which 52, 226 are waiting trial persons (ATP).’’
Most of these custodial centres, the President noted, are presently housing inmates `beyond their capacities and the over crowed facilities pose 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.
‘’It has become imperative for Your Lordship to request the State Chief Judges to embark on immediate visit to all custodial and correctional centres within their respective States to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already,’’ the President said.
The President said 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.
‘’It is expected that particular attention should be on the aged, those with no sufficient legal basis to remain in custody, inmates convicted on minor offences with or without option of fines and inmates who have less than 3 years term left to serve having served a substantial term of their service for offences that attract 5 years and above.’’
He said 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.
The President said a report on the proposed visits is expected to be forwarded to the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion Secretariat, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja for compilation and onward transmission to his office.
He also suggested to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to ‘’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.
He said there is need to ensure that the Chief Judges of States and FCT High Courts direct lower courts to comply with requirements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law in issuing remand warrants in criminal cases especially in cases which are not within their jurisdiction.
According to the President, ‘’this will regulate the volume of entry of Awaiting Trail Inmates into custodial centres.
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