A call has gone to the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to urgently intervene in the cases of inmates who have stayed beyond the maximum period of imprisonment in detention.
Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), the Facilitator of the Working Group on the Legal Status of Inmates in Correctional Centres made the call in Abuja Wednesday during the presentation of its report to the minister.
He noted that the first report of the group was set up to audit the legal status of inmates and has the mandate to investigate cases that are inconsistent with Section 35 of the 1999 Nigeria’s Constitution (as amended).
“This report provides a comprehensive review of the audit of the legal status of inmates in selected custodial centres in Nigeria.”
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Responding, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Fagbemi, said the group was constituted as part of the mandate of his office to ensure access to justice and ensure that persons are not unduly detained in custodial centres.