The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS said 3, 751 inmates
including convicts and awaiting trial persons have so far been
released in line with a presidential directive on the decongestion
of custodial centres in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered
the decongestion of custodial centres in the country to sustain the
fight against the spread of Covid-19.
Consequently, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
had on April 9 during the flag-off of the Presidential Amnesty at
the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja announced that
a total of 2, 600 inmates will benefit from the release across the
36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCoS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DCC
Austin Njoku explained that some states Chief Judges during the
jail delivery processes however granted bail/release to some
awaiting trial persons culminating in the release of 3,751 inmates
so far.
“The NCoS wishes to state that the process is ongoing, as other
measures are in place to ensure continuity and the final figures
will be made public at the end of the exercise.
“A breakdown of the release shows that 2, 740 convicts and 1,
011 Awaiting Trial Inmates have so far benefited from the
exercise.
“The Controller General of Corrections Ja’afaru Ahmed wishes to
use this medium to express his profound gratitude to all the State
Governors, Chief Judges and other stakeholders in the Criminal
Justice System who have work tirelessly to carry out this exercise
and encourage its continuity.
“The Service is assuring that all inmates qualified for the
amnesty and jail delivery will be released accordingly”, the
statement added.
The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS said 3, 751 inmates
including convicts and awaiting trial persons have so far been
released in line with a presidential directive on the decongestion
of custodial centres in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered
the decongestion of custodial centres in the country to sustain the
fight against the spread of Covid-19.
Consequently, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
had on April 9 during the flag-off of the Presidential Amnesty at
the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja announced that
a total of 2, 600 inmates will benefit from the release across the
36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The NCoS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, DCC
Austin Njoku explained that some states Chief Judges during the
jail delivery processes however granted bail/release to some
awaiting trial persons culminating in the release of 3,751 inmates
so far.
“The NCoS wishes to state that the process is ongoing, as other
measures are in place to ensure continuity and the final figures
will be made public at the end of the exercise.
“A breakdown of the release shows that 2, 740 convicts and 1,
011 Awaiting Trial Inmates have so far benefited from the
exercise.
“The Controller General of Corrections Ja’afaru Ahmed wishes to
use this medium to express his profound gratitude to all the State
Governors, Chief Judges and other stakeholders in the Criminal
Justice System who have work tirelessly to carry out this exercise
and encourage its continuity.
“The Service is assuring that all inmates qualified for the
amnesty and jail delivery will be released accordingly”, the
statement added.