By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Federal Government of Nigeria says it’s considering the release of at least 4,068 prison inmates across the Federation, beginning from the Kuje Correctional Centre situated in the outskirt of Abuja, the nation’s capital.
To this end, the sum of N585 million has been raised, funds expected to be used for the payment of fines for the inmates to gain freedom, a move targeted at decongesting the overcrowded facilities across the West African nation, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed on Saturday.
The money was donated by several organisations as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the country, the Minister noted while speaking on the sidelines of the 27th Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa at State House in Abuja.
Tunji-Ojo also emphasized that Ministry of Interior under his watch would collaborate with the Ministry of Justice to tackle the swelling number of awaiting trial inmates in various detention facilities in the country.
“While the Ministry of Justice is in charge of judicial administration, the Ministry of Interior controls the Correctional Institutions, which are transformatory centers that are meant to ensure that inmates have their fundamental rights protected. Of course, they become rehabilitated to be reintegrated back into the society.
“Synergy is key and that is what we have, especially with the Justice Ministry.
“The Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Interior must work hand-in-hand to make sure that the target of the judicial system comes to fruition. The target is not to punish people. It is to remodel, rehabilitate and reintegrate them.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, understands that. So, it is like end-to-end- a value chain. The Judiciary will do theirs through the courts, then, the Ministry of Interior will take it from there to make sure that they (inmates) come out better and are integrated back into the society.
“From here, I am heading straight to the Kuje Correctional Center. We are flagging off the release of about 4,068 inmates. These are people that are non-violent offenders. People that are in, due to their inability to pay fines.
“I said it a couple of weeks ago that we are going to raise about N585m through CSR from corporate bodies, which God has helped us and we have been able to do that.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministers of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi was also in attendance.
