Femi Falana, a prominent Human Rights Lawyer and Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has called on Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to reconsider the planned payment of N500 million for the release of Convicts across the Nation at Correctional facilities.
This plea from Falana was prompted by the Minister’s proposal to decongest the Correctional Centers by settling Fines Imposed on approximately 4,000 Convicts by various Courts in the Country.
In the wake of the third anniversary of the #EndSARS protests against Police brutality in Nigeria, Falana applauded the Initiative but suggested an Alternative approach.
He encouraged the Minister to appeal to President Bola Tinubu and State Governors to grant Pardons to the Convicts, redirecting the proposed Funds towards the Welfare of Inmates in the Correctional Centers.
Highlighting the situation at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, where Case Files were destroyed during the Protests, Falana emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the Plan.
He Advocated for the Utilization of earmarked Funds for enhancing the Well-being of Inmates, alongside the Implementation of alternative decongestion Policies.
Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, Falana urged the Minister to engage the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chief Judges of all States and the Federal Capital Territory to exercise their Powers under the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act.
This would enable the release of Detainees whose continued Detention is either Unlawfully prolonged or surpasses the maximum period of Imprisonment for their alleged Offenses.
Recent reports have indicated that several Courts in Lagos declined to arraign Suspects due to overcrowding in State Correctional facilities.
Additionally, Global Rights, an International human rights and Governance Capacity-building Organization, disclosed that at least 848 Individuals fell Victim to Extrajudicial Violence between 2020 and the first half of 2023, with 127 Cases recorded in the first half of 2023 alone.
The Organization stressed the Imperative need to address this pressing issue in a statement Commemorating the #EndSARS anniversary.
