FG is unable to keep feeding state-incarcerated convicts – Aregbesola

The federal government has urged state governors to create their own penitentiary systems and custodial facilities, claiming that this is their legal right.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, bemoaned that the overcrowding of detention facilities had taken a toll on the finances of the FG while speaking at a two-day conference on Decongestion and Corrections Administration in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Government has allocated N22.44 billion to feed prisoners in all of the country’s detention facilities.

Belgore asserted that state governments had apprehended and were prosecuting 90% of the prisoners housed in correctional institutions.

Aregbesola argued in a speech on Thursday that in order to reduce costs, states must take care of the housing and care of their offenders.

He said, “With the amendment to the constitution in this regard, states are now empowered to build correctional centres and facilities to house offenders, who are convicted and sentenced for committing state offences. Where states are unable to build custodial centres, it is believed that they can suggest ways to collaborate with the Federal Government in feeding and housing these state offenders.

“Overcrowding in the custodial centres has led to a huge revenue drain for the Federal Government, being the only party shouldering the responsibility of running and maintaining the custodial centres. The Federal Government can’t bear this anymore. I am going to leave strict recomnendations to my successor on that law. We would rather use the money meant for feeding inmates to improve our facilities. “

Jailbreaks, according to Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria, are caused by overcrowding in detention facilities.

He said, “Unnecessary congestion of prisons has led to jailbreaks and of course, overstretching the dilapidated custodial centres built 100 years ago.

“In order to enthrone a seamless dispensation of justice, the issue of congestion and reform has always occupied the front burner of discussion since the advent of this democratic dispensation and we have been waiting with bated breath to see the reform truly happen in our lifetime.”

Justice Ariwolola urged judges to apply the law correctly and to go to detention facilities to release prisoners who had committed insignificant offenses or were being unfairly tried.

“In order to enthrone a seamless dispensation of justice, the issue of congestion and reform has always occupied the front burner of discussion since the advent of this democratic dispensation and we have been waiting with bated breath to see the reform truly happen in our lifetime.”

Justice Ariwolola called on judges to interpret the law the right way as well as visit custodial centres with the aim of setting free inmates with minor offences and those being erroneously tried.

 He said, “The law should be interpreted the way it should be and must be done with the fear of the almighty God. Our visit to the custodial centres should also be increased with a view to setting free those inmates with minor offences and those that ought not to be there in the first place.

“I passionately appeal to judicial officers and those directly and remotely connected to the administration of the justice chain in the country to distance themselves from primordial sentiment and disposition.”