PRISON CONGESTION: FG orders state govs to quickly sign death warrants of prisoners

In a bid to effect the decongestion of Nigerian prisons, the Federal Government has ordered state governments to hasten the signing of death warrants of prisoners sentenced to death nationwide.

The decision of the federal government was one of those reached at the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting presided over by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the NEC meeting, it was also revealed that the Federal Government has concluded plans to build prisons close to farms so as to make able prisoners relevant.

Speaking more about the FG’s decision, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state who was in company of Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo of Gombe State reasoned that the nation’s prisons were congested and had become security risks.

He said; “In our NEC meeting today, the Minister of Interior (Abdulram Danbazzau) and the CG of Prisons came to brief us about the status of our prisons and the inmates throughout the country.

“The situation painted by the Minister and the CG of Prisons was pathetic and some gave graphic examples of what is happening in our prisons up to the states.

“For example last few months, we had a jail break in my state and to true confession that was the first time I visited prison. What I saw was a very terrible situation that shouldn’t be allowed and that is how it has been throughout the country in all the states.

“Some of us on our own developed some initiatives. Some have succeeded in the states from transferring the prisons from the urban centre outside the city centre. Some are providing medical services, some are building new prisons.

Read also: ONDO: Court sentences man to death for robbery, rape case

“And so NEC considered all the submissions and came up with an agreement that the governors should assist the Federal Government in partnership to rehabilitate the prisons.

“And it was also agreed that the states that have the capacity to build prisons should go ahead including private sectors participation. And of course the minister made it very clear that over 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial.

“The Minister did point out that they are beginning to do some prisons in farms and purchase some agric equipment which means that some of these prisoners that are available and could move freely could be engaged in agricultural programmes. This was agreed.

“The governors were also advised to do a number of things to decongest the prisons. For example the Chief Judges of various states should do more frequent visits to the prisons. They have constitutional role to perform during such visits.

“The governors on their own from time to time should also be able to visit. On the condemned criminals, the governors and NEC agreed that the governors should either sign their death sentences or commit them as they would wish because they will also serve as a risk if judgement has been delivered and no appeal is pending and the governors are not taking action on that.

“On the whole, NEC viewed that there should be emergency situations in terms of our prisons so that these people that are supposed to be reformed right there should not be further hardened,” he added.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now