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The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to accelerate the judicial process for speedy trials of iawaiting inmates in the country.
Tunji-Ojo, who said this on Wednesday during an unscheduled inspection visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja, where he reaffirmed the government's commitment towards decongesting correctional centres, especially for awaiting trial inmates
Already, the Minister said that the ministry has been working closely with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to bridge the gap in the time frame for conviction of inmates.
“We are working together, looking at inmates that perhaps have spent more time awaiting trial than they would have suffered or spent if they were convicted.
“In this particular facility, over 200 inmates are convicted while about 804 are awaiting trials, so, we have to design a methodology by being innovative.
“In the next couple of weeks or months, you are going to see drastic reduction in the number of inmates that we have.
I want to assure you that we are working very closely with the AGF on ways to decongest our correctional centers," he said.
According to the minister, more work and efforts are required across the 240 correctional centrrs the country to achieve the objective..
He said that the ministry would embark on scheduled visits to other correctional centres outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“We will be able to see things for ourselves so that both the ministry, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other stakeholders will know the right way to intervene in the situation of the correctional service.”
While emphasising the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure timely justice delivery, he lauded the dedication of correctional service personnel towards ensuring inmates are properly catered.
The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, in his remarks, disclosed that he had requested for the data of inmates awaiting trial and to know if there were cases pending against them.
“This will help the NBA probe on new units and how lawyers can also come in to move for their release.Also, for persons who may have spent longer time than they would spent if they were convicted; to see the process we can put in place to get them released,” he said.