Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has cried out over the soaring number of awaiting trial inmates across in its facilities.
The NCoS said statistics showed that awaiting trial inmates constituted about 70 percent of the total number of inmates in custody in the state whose cases are yet to be determined by the courts.
The spokesperson of the command, Musbahu Lawan, made this known yesterday when briefed newsmen in Kano.
He said the issue of overcrowding had become a challenge to the smooth operation of the Service as the number of awaiting trial inmates has tripled that of convicted inmates.
Umar said, “So far if the awaiting trial persons are eventually convicted, we would not cry over the congestion because our laws give us the power to transfer convicted inmates to any facility in the Country.
“Convicted inmates are easier to manage as they are mandated to engage in the various reformatory programmes, an opportunity which awaiting trial persons may not have.
“Most of the convicted inmates also benefit from the educational programmes in the Custodial Centers. In Kano command, a total of 38 convicted inmates sat for and passed the NECO SSCE and are now seeking admission at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN),” he added.
Umar stated that due to increased interest of the inmates in academics, the Service is working with NOUN to establish more study centres in the Custodial Centres in the state, noting that lack of study facilities such as computers and materials for study has been a challenge in that regard.
While commending some judges for complementing the Federal Government’s effort by making maximum use of non custodial sentencing, the spokesperson pointed out that, the federal government has introduced non-custodial measures like parole, community service, probation among others to address the overcrowding challenge in custodial centers.
He however assured that the Nigerian Correctional Service will continue to pursue its mandate of keeping safe and humane custody of the legally interned, while protecting the society through reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders.
