Reps Urge Decongestion Of 244 Correctional Centres

House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Justice to prevent delays in the dispensation of justice and fast track the process of meeting bail conditions to decongest the 244 correctional centres across the country.

The House also asked security agencies to avoid arbitrary arrests, devise and promote effective reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates to utilise its prerogative of mercy to grant amnesty to deserving inmates.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance moved by Hon Chinedu Ogah from Ebonyi State at plenary, yesterday.

Moving the motion, Ogah expressed worry that Over 70,000 inmates in the country face inadequate facilities despite government efforts, and some have not been charged with criminal cases, while some are unable to pay the fines imposed by the courts despite having their cases determined.

According to him, the Nigerian criminal justice system is plagued by flaws, with cases often lingering without resolution for years, thus overcrowding the correctional centres in various geopolitical zones.

“A data system reveals that federal offenders comprise less than 10% of correctional system inmates, leaving over 90% to state offences. Overcrowding of the correctional facilities has led to a huge revenue drain for successive governments, leading to prison dilapidation, criminalisation, and inability to separate awaiting trial inmates from convicted ones,“ he said.

Ogah further explained that implementing the criminal justice system and the adoption of non-custodial measures would effectively reduce the overcrowding of national prisons.

Adopting the motion, the House urged the federal and state governments to provide comprehensive reforms of the country‘s correctional system, including modernising custodial centres, building new facilities, and redesigning the bail system.