FG Frees Over 12,000 Inmates To Decongest Prisons

The FG Frees Over 12,000 Inmates in various prison centers across the country within the last six years in line with the policy of prison decongestion.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, declared that over 12,000 inmates were released from various correctional centers across the country within the last six years to decongest the nation’s prisons.

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Newsonline reports that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami disclosed this to members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters during the ministry’s budget defense.

Malami, who made the declaration in response to a question from Senator Ajibola Basiru (APC – Osun Central), said the Federal Government was able to decongest the prisons across the country through the implementation of the policy actions aside from the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, meant for expeditious dispensation of Justice.

“When this government came on board in 2015, the problem of prison congestion was at the front burner of national discourse, which made President Muhammadu Buhari to set machinery in motion in different ways for the required solution.

“One of such machineries was a Presidential Committee set up for Prison Decongestion which liaised with other stakeholders in the Justice sector for a way out.

“Aside the committee, Mr President himself also wrote letters to the 36 States Governors and Chief Judges of the States for required visitations to prisons and exercise of prerogative of mercies from time to time.