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Tag: Inmates

  • NCoS speaks on inmates being fed with N200 daily

    NCoS speaks on inmates being fed with N200 daily

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), says each inmate in custodial facilities nationwide is being fed with N750 daily, not N200 as mischievously circulated in a section of the media.

    A statement by the Service Public Relations Officers, Mr Abubakar Umar on Thursday in Abuja, said the media report was false, misleading and mischievous in all ramifications.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the public may wish to note that feeding allowance for inmates in Nigeria is in the public domain, and vendors are paid the approved amount upon completion of supply.

    “Contract for ration supply is usually made public, and the conditions clearly stated for interested vendors to apply in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    “Furthermore, every custodial centre has a ration committee that exercises supervisory role over quality assurance of supply, preparation, and distribution to inmates to ensure that they are fed within the approved budget.

    “The authorities have over the years, demonstrated commitment towards improving inmates’ welfare in terms of feeding as well as empowerment through effective reformation and rehabilitation programmes,” Umar said.

    According to him, the Service is making efforts to get approval for upward review of the feeding allowance to reflect current economic realities.

    “It is unfair and unpatriotic for anyone to fabricate stories just to denigrate the Service.

    “The public is advised to discountenance the false report.

    “Be assured of the irrevocable commitment of the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa to work for the general good of persons in custody even as genuine support of well-meaning Nigerians would continue to be appreciated.”

  • New Year: Gov Alia pardons 12 inmates

    New Year: Gov Alia pardons 12 inmates

    Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has granted State Pardon to 12 inmates serving various jail terms at the Federal Maximum Correctional Centre Makurdi.

    Alia granted the pardon on Monday, when he visited the Nigerian Correctional Centre Makurdi, the Benue capital.

    He charged the pardoned inmates to be of good behaviour as they reintegrated into the society and make use of the skills they acquired while in prison to better their lot.

    He explained that they were granted pardon based on his administration’s desire to offer the best to the people, and lamented that most of the inmates were young persons who ordinarily, should not be anywhere near the prison.

    He disclosed that among those to be granted state pardon was one Dennis Yogbo, who was dismissed from the state Civil Service about 28 years ago.

    He said with the pardon, Yogbo’s dismissal had also been converted to termination of appointment.

    “Give your society the very best. And as for the gentleman whose dismissal has been converted to termination of appointment, don’t take any elements of life for granted; demonstrate your newness into your society.

    “This should not be home for them. I was quite shocked to see the faces of many young people here, where there are a total of 525 inmates including 25 females, one with a baby, while some came in with pregnancy.” he said.

    Alia said his decision was based on the recommendation of the Benue State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim.

    Earlier in his remarks, the attorney general and commissioner for justice and public order said the advisory council recommended those that were granted pardon in line with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution for offences they committed against the state.

    Mnyim explained that the inmates granted pardon were from Makurdi, Otukpo and Gboko correctional facilities.

    The State Comptroller, Nigeria Correctional Service, Mrs Mary Oche acknowledged the efforts of the government in ensuring that inmates did not stay in the correctional centres unnecessarily.

    Oche also commended the governor for providing transportation fares to the inmates to get to their respective destinations and enjoy the New year with their loved ones.

    Responding on behalf of the freed inmates, Barnabas Apav, thanked the governor for the gesture and pledged that henceforth, they would be of good behaviour as they got back to the society.

    Also Dennis Yogbo, who was granted state pardon, said he had been in prison for 28 years, until God sent Alia to come to his rescue, following the recommendation of the council , after reviewing his case and converting his dismissal to termination.

  • New Year: Gov. Yahaya pardons 39 inmates in Gombe

    New Year: Gov. Yahaya pardons 39 inmates in Gombe

    Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe has granted clemency to 39 inmates serving various jail terms in Correctional facilities in the state.

    Yahaya made this known in a statewide broadcast to the people of the state on Monday in Gombe, as part of activities to mark the New Year.

    He stated that the gesture was done in the spirit of New Year and to give the inmates opportunity to change into better people.

    He said: “In the spirit of the new year, and based on the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted clemency to 39 convicted inmates in our custodial centres.

    “Out of which 26 inmates will be granted unconditional pardon, while the remaining 13 have their sentences commuted to shorter periods.

    “It is our hope that the beneficiaries will turn a new leaf and embrace this opportunity for a fresh start.”

    The governor while wishing all residents a prosperous 2024, urged them to carry forward the lessons of 2023 and embrace the new year with renewed hope, determination, and common sense of purpose.

    “In 2024, our focus will be on building a Gombe that leaves no one behind, as articulated in our recently passed 2024 budget christened the Budget of Continuity and Consolidation.”

     

  • Prison decongestion: FG releases 4,068 inmates on awaiting trial list

    Prison decongestion: FG releases 4,068 inmates on awaiting trial list

    In its bid to decongest the prisons in the country, the Federal Government has reportedly flagged off the release of 4,068 inmates who are awaiting trials.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, performed the symbolic release of the inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja, on Saturday.

    Ojo said that the aim was to decongest custodial centres across the country and make them humane for proper reformation and rehabilitation of offenders to take place.

    He said that as of Friday, November 17, 2023, there were about 80,804 inmates in 253 custodial facilities nationwide, and the total installed capacity for the 253 custodial centres adds up to less than 50,000.

    According to him, the decongestion will give room  to allow speedy dispensation of justice, pointing out that a large number of inmates in custodial centres are awaiting trial.

    He said the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, where 37 of the beneficiary inmates were released, has the installed capacity to hold 560 inmates, but currently, a total of 730 inmates are being held there. He added that out of the 730 inmates, 565 of them are awaiting trial.

    Continuing, he said  the figure showed that the custodial facilities are overcrowded, necessitating the commencement of the initiative, which is targeted towards addressing the overcrowding conundrum bedevilling custodial centres and their reformatory functions.

    “Today, we flagged off the release of a total of 4,068 inmates who are serving different terms of imprisonment in lieu of fines or compensation,” he stated.

    Tunji-Ojo explained that most of the inmates granted freedom are indigents who could not afford to pay their fines and have been languishing in custody. He added that N585 million was raised by philanthropic individuals, groups, and corporate bodies for the purpose of releasing the inmates.

    “Hence, all inmates in custodial centres who have fines or compensation not exceeding one million naira are qualified and would benefit from this gesture.

    “In addition, we are also providing each of them a stipend to enable them to return to their communities,” he added.

    Tunji-Ojo charged the benefiting inmates to see their freedom as a second chance to make things right again, advising them to stay away from crime and saying all must join hands with President Tinubu to make Nigeria a great nation.

    He disclosed that the Federal Government ensured that the beneficiary inmates were given requisite training aimed at impacting their lives functionally and equipping them with the knowledge for their self-reliance upon discharge, stressing that the government was not just releasing them to their fates.

    He noted that the training also covers their civic duties and responsibilities as citizens and strategies for refraining from reoffending.

    “In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mantra of renewed hope, the benefiting inmates have been given a second opportunity to get back on track and contribute to the ongoing development of our dear nation,” he said.

    He warned against stigmatising the inmates released. He called on the larger community to receive these returning citizens with open arms and refrain from stigmatising them, as it could drive them back to offending the law, which would further endanger society.

    He further urged the inmates to abide by the instructions and training they had received while in custody and to be good ambassadors in their communities.

    “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its custodial facilities,” he said

    While commending all stakeholders who facilitated the noble gesture as their corporate social responsibility, he added that they all have a stake in ensuring that offenders are properly reformed, rehabilitated, and reintegrated back into their communities.

     

  • 129 inmates on death row in Plateau prisons – PRO

    129 inmates on death row in Plateau prisons – PRO

    The Plateau Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), says there are 129 inmates currently on death row in the various custodial centres in the state.

    ASC Godfrey Longdiem, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), disclosed this in an interview on Sunday in Jos.

    According to Longdiem, the figure consists of 128 males and one female, adding also that 700 inmates are awaiting trial in the various prison facilities across the state.

    “We also have 700 inmates who are awaiting trial in our various facilities; and these consist of 691 males and nine females.

    He further explained that those convicted for short terms were 55 and those serving long term sentences were 192.

    Longdiem said those that serving life sentences were 49, adding that there no minors among them.

    Mr Steve Aluko, the Executive Director of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), who decried the dearth in prison facilities, called for reforms in the sector.

    Aluko stressed that custodial centres all over Nigeria were in dire need of total overhaul.

    “This is given the deteriorating condition of the country’s correctional centres that have featured more inmates awaiting trial than those actually convicted.

    “Certainly, the Nigerian prison system is in dire need of urgent reforms to rid it of the perennial problem of congestion and its adverse consequences on the health, wellbeing and human rights of the inmates,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile in Taraba, stakeholders, who claimed there were no inmates on death row in the state’s correctional facilities, however, decried the high number of those incarcerated in the centres, calling for the restoration of their human dignity.

    Malam Aminu Mohammed, a legal practitioner, said there were no death row inmates because those convicted of capital offences such as murder, were serving life sentences as maximum punishment.

    Mohammed however, said this had contributed to the high number of inmates, especially those awaiting trial, making the correctional centres in Taraba unsuitable for human habitation.

    He called for increased man power on the bench and judicial independence, to ensure there were more judges and magistrates, as well as adequate funds, to ensure quick dispensation of cases, in order to decongest correctional centres.

    Mr Raymond Ibrahim, the Executive Director, Centre for Justice and Development, an NGO, who described the centres as dilapidated, overcrowded, and with terrible living conditions that fall short of places for human habitation, suggested that the electronic system of justice dispensation was the way out.

    According to Ibrahim, most inmates are awaiting trial due to the slow pace of justice dispensation in the country.

    “The world is now technologically driven, and justice dispensation cannot be left behind if the country must get it right in justice administration.

    “A situation where case files move from one court to another, and sometimes get mixed up or missing due to years of prosecution, can be addressed if the process becomes digital,” he said.

    While commending the few judges that had started writing and delivering judgments virtually, Ibrahim called on the government to support a full transition from analogue to digital justice dispensation, to ensure speedy and efficient dispensation of justice and decongestion of correctional centres.

    Mrs Bridget Jonathan, also a legal practitioner, suggested the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, to prevent every case from being taken to court as part of measures to decongest correctional centres.

    Jonathan therefore, urged the government to support traditional rulers in strengthening the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in communities.

  • Nasarawa State’s chief judge releases 57 awaiting-trial inmates of custodial centres

    Nasarawa State’s chief judge releases 57 awaiting-trial inmates of custodial centres

    The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir, said on Wednesday that she has released 57 awaiting-trial inmates from the five Federal Correctional Centres in the state.

    Bashir made the declaration when she spoke with newsmen at the Wamba Custodial Centre in Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    She said she released those who regained freedom from the Lafia, Wamba, Nasarawa Medium, Keffi Old and Keffi Modern Custodial Centres during her routine visits.

    Bashir said the exercise aimed at reviewing cases of awaiting trial inmates and to ensure justice.

    She explained that out of the number, 25 inmates were released from the Lafia Custodial Centre; eight from Wamba and nine from Nasarawa.

    She added that nine inmates were released from the Keffi Modern Custodial Centre, while six inmates were released from Keffi Old Custodial Centre.

    “We used the opportunity of the visits to assess the health and well-being of the inmates and discharged those who were being wrongfully detained.

    “These facilities were not set up to punish inmates; they were set up to reform inmates and to make them better persons,’’ she said.

    Bashir urged magistrates in Nasarawa State to shun indiscriminate remand of accused persons in custody so as to reduce congestion at the correctional facilities.

    “Always try to settle the parties; you can only remand when it becomes unavoidable,’’ she admonished.

    The chief judge also warned judicial officers in Nasarawa State against corrupt practices in the interest efficient justice delivery.

    She warned the freed inmates to stay away from crimes, and warned that: “if you are caught again, you will face maximum punishment.’’

    In his remarks at the news briefing, Malam Inusa Adamu, Controller of Corrections, Nasarawa State, commended the chief judge for the visits, which he described as healthy for the facilities.

    Adamu urged the judiciary in Nasarawa State to use more of alternative dispute resolution, especially for minor offences so as to decongest custodial facilities.

    “Most of the custodial centres are already overstretched; some are carrying more than two times their original capacities,’’ he said.

    The controller pledged the commitment of the correctional service to ensure safe and humane custody of inmates.

     

  • 69% of inmates are awaiting-trial persons – NCoS

    69% of inmates are awaiting-trial persons – NCoS

    A total of 54,171 inmates out of the 79,076 inmates in correctional centres nationwide as at July 31, are awaiting-trial persons.

    Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Haliru Nababa gave the figure on Thursday in Abuja at an international conference on prisoners’ justice.

    The conference held to commemorate the 2023 International Prisoners Justice Day.

    Nababa was represented at the conference by the Deputy Controller-General, Finance and Accounts Department of the NCoS, Mr Abdulai Magaji.

    “As at July 31, no fewer than 54,171 inmates, representing 69 per cent of the 79,076 inmates are awaiting-trial persons, while 24,905 inmates, representing 31 per cent are convicts.

    “This remains the most daunting setback confronting the NCoS. One can only imagine the enormity of having to consistently produce inmates in court when required.

    “This is coupled with the complications of managing such high number of pre-trial detainees amidst overcrowding,’’ he said.

    He noted that the NCoS Act (2019) provided the service with a more robust framework to contribute significantly to prompt justice delivery in Nigeria.

    He said the significance of the conference could not be overemphasised given the fact that justice is essentially the cornerstone of any social system.

    “Justice is foundational to the sustenance and growth of any human society. It emphasises the rights and dignity of all persons, including those behind bars.

    “This largely underpins the aptness of the theme for this conference: “Enhancing Global Response for Prisoners’ Justice,’’ he said.

    He added that safe and humane custody in custodial centres is the high point of justice delivery for persons in custody and for the society at large.

    Magaji said improved logistics support for the NCoS had resulted in significant improvement in access to justice by awaiting-trial inmates.

    He said also that the era of inmates missing their day in court due to lack of mobility had been mitigated to its barest minimum.

    Earlier, the Chief Convener of the conference, Rev. Fr. Victor Nyoroh said the theme was apt as the whole world was laying emphasis on the humane treatment of people in detention.

    “We as a nation cannot be left behind, but must do all that is within our powers to ensure inmates get quick justice,’’ he said.

    He stressed that Aug. 10 was set aside for prisoners and their supporters to honour those who died unnatural deaths in prisons.

    The date was also set aside for those demanding changes to a criminal justice system that dehumanises and brutalises them, he said.

    “This is the reason why stakeholders in the criminal justice system are gathered here to chart a way forward to enhance prisoner’s justice in spite of challenges facing this sector of the economy,’’ he said.

    The Prisoners’ Justice Day is a solidarity movement that holds annually on Aug. 10 globally.

    The movement began in Canada in 1974 in support of prisoners’ rights and to remember all the people who had died of unnatural deaths while in incarceration.

  • NCoS speaks on officers borrowing money from inmates

    NCoS speaks on officers borrowing money from inmates

    The management of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed as false and unfounded, claims that its personnel were collecting loans from inmates of custodial centres.

    The Service Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Corrections Mr Abubakar Umar, dismissed the claim in an interview NAN on Monday in Abuja.

    According to him, NCoS personnel have more credible sources of obtaining loan facilities.

    Umar also said that the claim made in an online media, insinuating that the personnel were being paid less salaries than their counterparts in other paramilitary services in the ministry of Interior, was also false.

    It was gathered that a Correctional Officer was reported to have written to President Bola Tinubu to complain about alleged corruption and poor remuneration in the service.

    The aggrieved personnel claimed that they were being poorly paid and treated unfairly unlike their colleagues in other services under ministry.

    According to the officer, the situation had forced some of the personnel to now depend on inmates to feed their families.

    Umar, however dismissed the allegations, saying that those behind it wanted to distract the NCoS from the current reforms and transformations being undertaken by the management headed, by the Comptroller General, Haliru Nababa.

    He said it was important to set the records straight and clear whatever doubts the malicious report would have created.

    Umar explained that salaries of officers and men of the NCoS are fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Salaries and Wages Commission, just like other paramilitary services under the ministry.

    “It is therefore, ridiculous to say that staff of the NCoS receive less than their counterparts in other services in the ministry of interior.

    “Secondly, the infantile authors should know that salaries are paid directly to beneficiaries’ accounts, therefore, no Chief Executive, including the Comptroller General, has access to staff salaries and least to imagine deduction from same.

    “Without being immodest, evidence of significant projects aimed at improving the welfare of staff by the Comptroller General since his assumption of office, abound.

    “To the best of my knowledge, the allegation that personnel collect loans from inmates is not true as personnel have more credible sources of obtaining loan facilities, ” he said.

    The NCoS spokesman explained that the Service runs a Microfinance Bank which provides soft loans and financial services for staff to meet personal and family needs.

    He said this was in addition to the drive of the Comptroller General to shore up accommodation through the construction of new barracks, and reconstruction of dilapidated ones in several commands.

    “It is also on record that the Corrections Welfare Insurance Scheme has continued to provide succour and soft-landing to staff that sustained injury or paid the ultimate prize while on duty.

    “In addition, the Comptroller General, through the Corrections Cooperative Society, has floated a mass housing programme for personnel of the Service.

    “This will see staff own their own houses in any location of their choice in Nigeria.

    “Currently, construction of housing estates under the programme has commenced in Kuje and KYC estates in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, ” he said.

    Umar said the service had also constructed and renovated office buildings in various state commands to boost the morale of personnel to perform their duties effectively and efficiently

    “In the same vein, significant logistical support have been provided to promote efficiency among the personnel.

    “These include operational vehicles recently distributed to all Armed Squad Commanders in states to boost rapid response in and around our facilities nationwide,” he added.

    Umar enjoined the public to disregard the malicious reports as they are mere figments of the author’s imagination.

    The NCoS spokesman assured that service would not relent in improving the well-being of both staff and inmates.

    He enjoined the media to be professional and responsible, and endeavour to confirm the validity of information before publishing.

  • States now to feed, accommodate inmates – Aregbesola

    States now to feed, accommodate inmates – Aregbesola

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola says state governments will now be feeding and accommodating inmates in their states.

    He said this followed the recent consultational amendment which placed Correctional Services on the concurrent list.

    Aregbesola gave the insight while speaking at a 2-day High-Level Conference on Decongestion and Corrections Management, on Thursday in Abuja.

    “This simply means that states are now empowered to establish their own Correctional Services and facilities.

    “States which do not have correctional facilities would have to pay the Federal Government for the feeding and accommodation of their inmates,” the minister said.

    According to him, this is a huge relief to the Federal Government which used to shoulder the burden of accommodating and feeding inmates.

    In 2023, the Federal Government had earmarked N22.44 billion to feed inmates across 244 correctional facilities in the country.

    The minister lamented that the huge amount was draining the coppers of the Federal Government.

    “These facilities are being run by the Federal Government. It should be noted that the criminal justice system of Nigeria makes provision for state and federal offences.

    “However, until the amendment of the Constitution, only the Federal Government was in charge of custodial centres.

    “With the amendment of the Constitution, states are now empowered to build correctional centres and facilities to house offenders who are convicted and sentenced for committing state offences.

    “Where states are unable to build custodial centres, it is believed that they can suggest ways to collaborate with the Federal Government in feeding and housing these state offenders,’’ he added.

    Aregbesola said that the conference had brought to the fore,  applicable laws to aid the reform of correctional services, including custodial and non-custodial measures .

    He said that Section 12 (4-12) of the NCoS Act, gave the Service the powers to reject inmates when custodial centres are full.

    “By the provision of the Act, the Controller-General, NCoS, is mandated to inform the head of the judiciary of when the custodial centres have exceeded their capacity.

    “This is necessary, so that more offenders are not sent to the centres to serve their sentence. Where his information is not heeded, he is mandated to reject new inmates.

    “It is hoped that the above measure will curb the dumping tendencies leading to overcrowding of the custodial centres.

    “This will be by encouraging the payment of fines for simple offences, non-custodial sentencing and also building and construction of new correctional facilities,’’ the minister said.

    The Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa said that the sad cases of jail breaks had claimed the lives of of officers and inmates, and escape of prisoners.

    Nababa said that the trend, posed a grave threat to the sovereignty and prosperity of the country.

    “However, we are not resting on our oars to ensure that we stem the tide.

    “We have stepped-up security in and around our Custodial Centres by fortification of access controls.

    “We have increased the capacity of our Armed Squad Personnel through specialized training and deployment of high caliber weapons.

    “We have up scaled our use of technology for security, with the improvement of the Correctional Information Management System for inmates’ biometric capturing to cover more formations.

    “In like manner, a Situation Room has been established at the National Headquarters to enable real-time monitoring of Custodial Centres in phases.

    “Similarly, we have continued to improve collaboration with sister security agencies at strategic, tactical and operational levels,’’ Nababa said.

  • FG spends N22.44bn on feeding 75,507 inmates

    FG spends N22.44bn on feeding 75,507 inmates

    The Federal Government is spending N22.44 billion in 2023 on the feeding of 75,507 inmates in correctional centres nationwide, an official said on Thursday in Abuja.

    The inmates are spread in 244 custodial centres nationwide, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore said during a High-level conference on corrections and decongestion of custodial centres.

    Belgore said that 70 percent of the inmates were awaiting trial.

    He attributed the high number of awaiting trial inmates to arbitrary arrests, delay in dispensing justice and inability to meet bail conditions.

    The permanent secretary said that the situation had led to the congestion of 82 custodial centres across the country.

    “The total number of male inmates are 73,821 and 1,686 are female inmates. Out of the 75,507 inmates, 52,436 are awaiting trial while 23,071 are convicted persons, with 3,322 as condemned inmates on death row.

    “The Federal Government budgeted N22.44 billion in the 2023 appropriation to cater for the feeding of inmates. Failure to take action to decongest the custodial centres will come at a cost.

    “The effects of overcrowding in the custodial centres have led to huge revenue drain for the Federal Government.

    “Dilapidation of the centres, criminalisation of the society and the inability to separate awaiting trial inmates from convicted persons,” he said.

    Belgore said there was need for holistic reform of the country’s correction system, including the modernisation of custodial centres for appropriate reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.

    He said that stakeholders have since emphasised the need to build new facilities and redesign the bail system.

    “I am of the view that the discourse at this conference should allocate more time to address speedy dispensation of justice to reduce number of inmates on awaiting trial.

    “In as much as the Ministry of Interior works tirelessly to accomplish the goal of achieving greater reduction of number of inmates across our custodial centres, we are determined to ensure that the correctional facilities provide not just a decent accommodation.

    “We also ensure that inmates acquire skills and knowledge to advance their integration into the society when they eventually regain freedom,” Belgore said.

    He said that the conference should propose efficient, effective and sustainable solutions to tackle congestion of custodial centres and effective implementation of non-custodial measures.

    The permanent secretary added that strategies should be devised to promote effective reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.

    Belgore said the role of the Federal and State Governments in correction of inmates should also be examined by the conference.

    “The statistics ratio of federal and state offenders is mind boggling and worrisome.

    “The federal offenders in the correctional facilities are far less than 10%, leaving the majority of over 90% to state offences,” he said.

    Belgore said that improved implementation of the criminal justice system and adoption of non-custodial measures would help in the decongestion of custodial centres across the nation.