The Justice Ishaq Bello-led presidential committee on prisons reform and decongestion Tuesday released Forty-one inmates from the Keffi (New) Correctional Centre, Nasarawa State.
During the exercise, the Chairman of the committee, Justice Bello explained that the released inmates data would be captured on a permanent data base, saying that it would enhance access to their data anytime.
While urging security operatives to be civil in their duties, Bello cautioned them from detaining suspects beyond the statutory period prescribed by the law.
Also speaking at the jail delivery exercise, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice(HAGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN said apart from carrying out on the spot assessment of the prisons condition, cases of inmates with special cases would be reviewed.
Represented, Mrs. Jane Awanen, a Deputy-Director in the Ministry, Malami assured that the present administration would continue to advocate non-custodial measures as provided for in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act,2019 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
In his goodwill message the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Umaru Diko urged the HAGF and the Ministry of Interior to replicate the project in all the 774 Local Government Areas, noting that there is need to engage the youths in order to reduce the level of criminality in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier in her opening remarks, the secretary of the Committee, Mrs. Leticia Ayoola –Daniels re-emphasized the need for inmates to acquire skills while serving their terms, saying that the Federal Ministry of Justice has provided equipment for them.
Thrity-nine males and only two females got their fines paid up by the by the Office of the Attorney-General of theFederation, the FCT Minister and some Non-governmental organizations in the country.
