Decay in Nigerian prisons alarming – AGF

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has described the state of the Nigerian prisons as ‘unfortunate and alarming’.

The AGF stated this yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the stakeholders’ committee on prisons decongestion in Nigeria.

Malami, who noted the overcrowded nature and unconducive environment in the prisons, said the current state of the country’s prisons violates the fundamental human rights of inmates and contradicts the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

He said his office intends to draw up a roadmap and comprehensive action plan to “ensure that permanent gains are achieved on reformation and decongestion of our correctional institutions.”

In his response, the chairman of the committee and Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, expressed confidence in the ability of the members to deliver on their mandate.

He called on the 36 states of the federation to adopt the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 to enhance criminal justice administration in the country.

He said the FCT has begun the implementation of alternatives to custodial sentencing with the establishment of farms in prisons and other community service approaches contained in the ACJA.