The leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila
(Lagos-APC), on Wednesday, said a Bill proposing community service
as an alternative to prison term for miscellaneous offenders in the
country was underway.
Gbajabiamila said in Abuja that when presented and passed, the
emerging law would check congestion prisons across the country.
He expressed concern over the state of prisons in the country,
saying that no fewer than 100 inmates currently slept in one prison
cell. He noted that this could breed more criminals in the
society.
According to him, a congested prison has attendant consequences
apart from the epidemic that may ensue.
“This is apart from the people who may be in there for a period
of two months to six months because the alternative was to pay a
fine of N20, 000 which they didn’t have.
“They are not criminals but petty offenders involved in
misdemeanours like wondering or trading illegally on the streets or
hawking,’’ the lawmaker said.
He said that the situation in the prisons had the potential of
producing more criminals.
According to him, by the time the inmates come out, they are
hardened.
“So, the issue is for us to come up with a bill for community
services for people like that rather than making prison term an
alternative. All over the world, they don’t do that for such
offences.
“I am actually happy that the community service Bill is in the
process and will be coming for a second reading very soon so that
we can decongest our prisons,’’ Gbajabiamila said.
He explained that the bill would seek the removal of prison
issues from the jurisdiction of the Federal Government to the
states for improved services.
“The ultimate goal for me is for us to remove the issue of
prison from the exclusive list and send it down to the states.
“If each state has about three or five prisons we are talking
about over 100 prisons across the country and that will help to
reduce congestion.
“It should be a state matter because these people are tried for
state offences mostly,’’ Gbajabiamila said.
(NAN)
The leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila
(Lagos-APC), on Wednesday, said a Bill proposing community service
as an alternative to prison term for miscellaneous offenders in the
country was underway.
Gbajabiamila said in Abuja that when presented and passed, the
emerging law would check congestion prisons across the country.
He expressed concern over the state of prisons in the country,
saying that no fewer than 100 inmates currently slept in one prison
cell. He noted that this could breed more criminals in the
society.
According to him, a congested prison has attendant consequences
apart from the epidemic that may ensue.
“This is apart from the people who may be in there for a period
of two months to six months because the alternative was to pay a
fine of N20, 000 which they didn’t have.
“They are not criminals but petty offenders involved in
misdemeanours like wondering or trading illegally on the streets or
hawking,’’ the lawmaker said.
He said that the situation in the prisons had the potential of
producing more criminals.
According to him, by the time the inmates come out, they are
hardened.
“So, the issue is for us to come up with a bill for community
services for people like that rather than making prison term an
alternative. All over the world, they don’t do that for such
offences.
“I am actually happy that the community service Bill is in the
process and will be coming for a second reading very soon so that
we can decongest our prisons,’’ Gbajabiamila said.
He explained that the bill would seek the removal of prison
issues from the jurisdiction of the Federal Government to the
states for improved services.
“The ultimate goal for me is for us to remove the issue of
prison from the exclusive list and send it down to the states.
“If each state has about three or five prisons we are talking
about over 100 prisons across the country and that will help to
reduce congestion.
“It should be a state matter because these people are tried for
state offences mostly,’’ Gbajabiamila said.
(NAN)
Read more https://nairalaw.com/prison-decongestion-bill-underway-gbajabiamila/