El-Rufai decries injustice to awaiting trial inmates

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, yesterday described as injustice, the practice of keeping awaiting trial inmates on minor offences in prison for long periods.

Speaking during a visit to the Kaduna Convict Prison, the governor said the visit was informed by the regular briefing by the state Controller of Prison and the presidential directive to all governors to look into ways of decongesting the prisons.

El-Rufai after touring

the congested prison said he would work with the prison authorities to improve facilities in the prison.

“We are particularly interested in improving the state of training and vocational facilities within the prison and expand that to outside the prison. We believe acquisition of skills is very important, not only to create jobs but also to reduce crime.

“It is injustice for a person to be kept for a long time in prison on a minor offence and awaiting trial”, he said

He added that following the presidential directive, the state executive would work closely with the judiciary to decongest the prisons.

Earlier in his welcome address, the state Prisons Controller, Abubakar Garba, had said the prison was established in 1915 with capacity for 547 inmates. He however noted that, the prison presently houses over 1,000 inmates, including 114 condemned criminals.

The controller solicited the assistance of the state government in the area of logistics.

The Chief Judge of Kaduna State who.was also in the governor’s entourage assured that the judiciary would cooperate with the state executive to actualise its objectives.