Federal Govt Frees 37 Inmates From Kuje, Suleja Custodial Centres

The Federal government has set free 37 inmates from the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre and Suleja Centre as part of measures to decongest the custodial centers around the country recently initiated by the minister of interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola.

The inmates however had to pay fines which ranged from N15, 000 to N 130,000 facilitated by public spirited persons in collaboration with a non -Governmental Organisation (NGO),  Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA).

Speaking to reporters at the Kuje Custodial Center yesterday, the Comptroller of Correctional Service for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Command, Ibrahim Idris who handed over five of the released inmates to officials of PRAWA, said all the conditions for their freedom had been met.

Idris commended Aregbeshola for initiating the process leading to their release at the recent National Conference on Prisons Decongestion which was attended by Judges across the country, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola.

He said a total of 37 inmates had their fines paid for them, noting that some of them were jailed for minor offences, with options of fine but were unable to raise money to pay the fines.

“We are releasing five from here today (Kuje), four others are having their documents processed. And they would be released immediately. So far, 37 are regaining their freedom from Kuje and Suleja centres.

“The chief judges of the FCT and Niger states have been here, and they are instrumental to the gesture which is aimed at decongestion of our facilities,” Idris said.

The deputy director of PRAWA,  Ogechi Ogu, told reporters  that  the inmates should be assisted in the area of rehabilitation by public spirited persons to enable them integrate into the community and eke out a decent living for themselves.

She said PRAWA was championing decongestion of prisons in Nigeria to save the country huge sums of taxpayers’ money used in feeding inmates every year even as she urged the public to stop the stigmatisation of inmates to enable them fit in and contribute their quota.

Speaking to reporters, one of the released inmates urged the government to create jobs for the young people in order to reduce their temptation to take to crime.