The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on 18th December, disclosed that over 53,836 inmates in the country’s 253 correctional centers are in line for trial.
Assistant Controller of Corrections (ACC) Abubakar Umar, the spokesperson of the service, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
ACC Abubakar Umar stated that the overall count of inmates across the nation, considering both conviction and those awaiting trial, stood at 77,849 during the period under review. Out of this total, the number of convicted inmates was 24,013. Of these, 23,569 were male inmates, while 444 were female inmates.
Umar emphasized that a significant 69% of the inmates in Custodial Centers were awaiting trial, while the remaining 31% were convicted inmates. This statistic highlights the pressing issue of prolonged detention without trial, which continues to burden the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
One of the major challenges faced by the service is the state of dilapidated custodial structures, which leads to overcrowding and congestion within the centers. To address this issue, the government has recently constructed 3,000 ultra-modern additional custodial facilities across the six geopolitical zones.
The aim is to alleviate the congestion in existing centers and improve the welfare and health conditions of the inmates. ACC Abubakar Umar mentioned that one of these new facilities, located in Kano, has already been inaugurated.
The completion of the remaining facilities currently under construction is expected to be expedited, further aiding in the decongestion efforts. The high number of inmates awaiting trial reflects the need for swift and efficient judicial processes to ensure the timely dispensation of justice.
It is imperative that measures are taken to address this issue, such as improving the efficiency of the justice system, strengthening legal aid services, and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Efforts to decongest custodial centers and provide better living conditions for inmates are commendable steps toward a more just and humane criminal justice system in Nigeria. Continued commitment and investment in these initiatives will contribute to the overall well-being and rehabilitation of the incarcerated population, while upholding the principles of justice and fairness…
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