The President, Nigeria Society for Criminology (NSC), Professor Oludayo Tade, on Monday, June 30, advised the Judiciary to apply more non-custodial sentences for less serious offences as one of the ways to decongest Nigeria’s overcrowded custodial facilities, in order to reduce the number of inmates on awaiting trial.
The NSC president stated this while speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State, on the just-concluded third international conference of the society, held at the University of Abuja.
The conference was themed: “Correctional Service Reformation in Nigeria: Promoting Justice, Rehabilitation, and Social Reintegration.”
Prof. Tade stressed the urgency in addressing the high number of awaiting-trial inmates, noting that 53,234 (66 percent) of the total inmate population (81,234) are awaiting trial, contributing significantly to overcrowding and systemic inefficiencies.
He stated that the number of awaiting trial inmates in Nigeria’s custodial facilities impacts the welfare of both correctional service personnel and the inmates’ desire to access justice.
The keynote speaker at the conference was the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, who spoke on “2019 Correctional Service Act: Challenges and prospects for effective implementation.”
Represented by Controller of Corrections, Dr Tukura Yakubu, the Controller-General advocated the co-location of the courts and the custodial facilities which, according to him, would hasten justice dispensation and remove some of the logistical challenges associated with taking inmates to courts.
He also pushed for the use of technology to improve access to justice and hasten quick dispensation of cases before the courts.
“Technology adaptation in investigation, trial and corrections is possible if we leverage on technology,” the Controller General said.
The CGC also implored legal practitioners to increase their interventions “by way of offering pro-bono services to inmates that can not afford legal representation”.
While thanking the federal government on the ongoing improvement of the capacity of custodial centres among other ongoing renovations, he asked for more logistical support across all levels of government, particularly with state and local governments.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General, State Security Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Criminal Cases Department, Directorate of Legal Services, Cynthia Uche Orjinta, noted that the theme of the conference resonates with the collective aspiration for a just and equitable society, adding: “True justice encompasses the reformation (of offenders) and their successful reintegration as productive members of the society.
“This requires a holistic approach that addresses the immediate needs of the inmates as well as systemic issues that contribute to crime and recidivism.”
According to Professor Tade, the journal of the society, the Nigeria Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, was inaugurated at the conference by the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Society, Professor Hawa’u Evelyn Yusuf, who lauded the executive and the editorial board for the feats achieved.
