Correctional Centres In Nasarawa State Are Mostly Overstretched By More Than Two Times Their Capacity –CJ
Rabiu Omaku
The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu has confirmed that the existing five correctional Centres in the State were already overstretched by more than two times their capacities.
Bashir-Aliyu gave the hint during a routine official visit to Lafia, Wamba, Nasarawa Medium, Keffi Old, and Keffi Modern Custodian Centres.
During a chat with Journalists in Lafia, the Chief Judge averred that during the visit to the facilities, the CJ said the tour complied with the policy of President Bola Tinubu and was in line with the law.
She faulted lower court Judges for sending accused persons to correctional centers, urging them to remain focused so that the facilities would not be congested
She advised lower court Judges to always try settlement except if it is unavoidable before sending the accused to custodian centers.
Justice Aisha Basir-Aliyu, Chief Judge declared that 167 inmates awaiting trial across the five Federal Correctional Centres in the State benefited from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’gesture of decongestion of Corrections.
Aisha Bashir Aliyu gave the breakdown of those discharged from various custodian facilities as; Lafia 49, Wamba 33, Nasarawa 16, Keffi Old 30, and 39 from Keffi Modern Custodian.
She warned the discharged inmates to stay away from crimes or if caught again, they would face maximum punishment.
Always try settlement except if it is unavoidable before you send the accused to custodian centers,” she added.
The Chief Judge also warned judiciary staff against indulging in corrupt practices, adding that anyone caught would be sanctioned accordingly.
The Chief Judge maintained that the custodian facilities are not meant to punish the inmates, but to reform them and make them better persons.
“The tour of the existing facilities was aimed at seeing to the health and well-being of the inmates, discharge those wrongly incarcerated or who stayed more than the punishment they are being charged for.
On his part, Mr Adamu Yahaya, Nasarawa State Controller of Correctional Services appreciated the CJ and her team for the visit.
She explained that the visit had put smiles on the faces of the inmates and had given those released second chances to be law-abiding and responsible members of society.
The controller however appealed to families and friends of inmates to desist from supplying marijuana to them in custody.
“We have recorded cases where friends or family members of inmates supplied them with marijuana either at the court or at the custodian centers during visit.
“We caught some of them and one of the relatives that was caught is currently serving a jail term at Nasarawa custodian center,” the controller added.
He therefore advised the released inmates to desist from committing crimes that could bring them back to jail again.
The Chief Judge was accompanied to the visit by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission, the Police legal team, private lawyers, judges of superior and lower courts as well as the counsels from the Ministry of Justice among others.
