Senate has ordered the suspension of the ongoing
prison decongestion programme under the supervision of the Federal
Ministry of Justice owing to poor handling of over eight billion naira
earmarked for the programme and be handed over with immediate
effect to the Legal Aid council .
This resolution was reached following the adoption
of the report of the Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and
Legal Matters, Interior and Police Affairs on the plight of persons
awaiting trials in Nigerian prisons.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Joint Committee,
Senator Umaru Dahiru said the move will be more suitable to
quickly address the unbearable congestion in Nigerian
prisons,
The committee also recommended that the Chief Justice of
Nigeria through the National Judicial Council should encourage Chief Judges of
States and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to review cases of awaiting trial
detainees monthly.
In his contribution, Senator James Manager complained that
prisons built during the colonial days are yet to be expanded
proportionate with the growing population in the country, adding that
despite the growing numbers of citizen yearly, prison is still in the
exclusive legislative list instead of the concurrent list.
In his ruling, Senate President David Mark expressed
hope that the recommendations of the committee are implemented by the
executive while advocating for proper rehabilitation programme for prison
imates in order to make them better citizens when they complete their
sentences.
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