Over 70% of inmates awaiting trial - Minister

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said over 4,000 inmates are held in custodial centres across the country over their inability to pay fines slammed on them by judges and magistrates.

This was as he lamented that over 70 per cent of the total population in the nation’s custodial centres are awaiting trial.

He noted that the number of inmates in correctional facilities can be reduced by about 40 per cent if the non-custodial alternatives as provided for in the Correctional Service Act are explored.

A statement on Saturday by the minister’s media adviser, Alao Babatunde, quoted him as speaking when the Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, visited him in Abuja.

The statement partly read, “Over 70 per cent of the 79,000 inmates are awaiting trial.

“We have over 4,000 inmates in the facilities for their inability to pay various fines. We believe we can reduce the number of inmates in our correctional facilities by about 40 per cent if we explore non-custodial alternatives as provided for in the Correctional Service Act.”

The minister stated that the EU could support the country in deploying technology to buffer and enhance border management architecture within the country.

He added, “The European Union is important to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. Our relationship with the EU is historical in terms of but not limited to bilateral support.

“If we can solve crime and migration problems in Nigeria, Africa will be better for it. Due to the boundaries, Africa shares with the EU, our problems are more of an EU problem than any other part of the world. And, because we are committed to solving this, we will explore all avenues.”

The minister urged the EU to support the Federal Government’s plan to audit all correctional centres

Tunji-Ojo noted that the ministry was working on key reforms, especially in areas of travel documentation processes and knowledge transfer.

He added, “We have commenced the process to unbottle the bottlenecks in our international passport application and collection process. Today, we have made huge progress. We are also working on ways to reduce identity theft. We want to make sure the green passport regains its pride and integrity.”

Earlier, the ambassador assured the minister of the support of the EU, noting that the union would render technical support in managing the illegal aspect of migration as well as curbing human trafficking and people smuggling.