The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, has written to the chief judges of states on the 'urgent' need to decongest Nigerian prisons due to the
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, has written to the chief judges of states on the ‘urgent’ need to decongest Nigerian prisons due to theMr Muhammad, in a circular dated May 15, said “the inmates population at various custodial centres across the country presently stands at about 74,127 out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Persons .”
“Most of these custodial centres are presently housing inmates beyond their capacities and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control,” he wrote.
He drew the attention of the judges to “the need to take urgent measures towards the speedy trial of cases and decongestion of custodial centres in the country in view of COVID-19 Pandemic. Recently, the United Nations called on countries of the World to consciously reduce the population of prison inmates since physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible.
Mr Muhammad’s directive comes weeks after a violent protest by inmates at the Kaduna prison led to the killing of some prisoners by officials. reported how the prisoners were demanding their release because of the coronavirus pandemic and also need to ensure other safety measures like regular handwashing are enabled in the prison.Before the Kaduna prison protest, the attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, had also spoken on the need to decongest the prisons.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Thursday morningGood morning! Here is today\u2019s summary from Nigerian Newspapers 1. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday confirmed 184 new coronavirus cases. The agency, while making the announcement via its Twitter handle, said Nigeria now has 4971 cases in 34 states and the federal capital territory (FCT). 2. Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the new
Read more »
COVID-19 Vaccine: WHO, Nigerian govt told not to bring trial drugs into KanoA Kano-based group, Kungiyar Matasan Kano Advocacy Organisation, has kicked against the proposal to try the COVID-19 vaccine in the State. The Federal Government had on Monday announced that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano States, have enrolled on the World Health Organisation (WHO) treatment regimen on solidarity drug trials.
Read more »
Consider Nigeria’s peculiarities in implementing COVID-19 protocols- Nigerian Doctors tell govtThe Nigerian Medical Association has tasked President Mohammadu Buhari to intervene in the continued obstruction of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) from carrying out its mandate by the governments of Kogi and Cross River States. This impedance according to the association is despite the lofty provisions in the NCDC Act (2018) which empowers
Read more »
FBI seizes phone of top senator in insider-trading probeThe FBI has seized a cellphone of US Senator Richard Burr to see if he used his insider access to classified intelligence to sell stock before the coronavirus pandemic struck, according to news reports Thursday.
Read more »
NCDMB, DPR to check abuse of expatriate quota in oil sector“It is also disturbing that operators and major service providers promote this illegal practice by entering into contract agreements with these manpower supply companies to source expatriates for positions.' Nigeria Oil
Read more »