Buhari urges judiciary to decongest prisons

TRACKING___President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the judiciary to speed up trials to aid government’s efforts at decongesting the custodial centres.

The President gave the advice in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, drawing his attention to a recent call by the United Nations (UN) to all countries “to consciously reduce the population of prison inmates since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible.”

Buhari’s letter, which was quoted in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said: “From available records, the inmates’ population at custodial centres across the country stands at about 74,127, out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs).

“Most of these custodial centres are housing inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control.”

In view of the above scenario, the President said: “It has become imperative for Your Lordship to request state chief judges to embark on immediate visit to all custodial/correctional centres within their states to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already.”