Number of awaiting trial inmates soars in Kano custodial facility – Official

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has cried out over the soaring number of awaiting trial persons in the Custodial Centres in the state.
The spokesman of the Command, SC Musbahu Lawan, made this during a press briefing with newsmen at the state headquarters office in Kano.
SC Musbahu Lawan said that overcrowding is a challenge to the smooth operation of the Nigerian Correctional Service in the state as the number of awaiting trial inmates has tripled that of convicted inmates in the state. Statistics shows that awaiting trial inmates constitute about 70 percent of the total number of inmates in the state, and that most of them have stayed in custody with their cases yet to be determined by the courts.
The PRO stated that ‘So far if the awaiting trial persons are eventually convicted, we would not cry over the congestion because our laws give us the power to transfer convicted inmates to any facility in the Country.’
SC Lawan further said that convicted inmates are easier to manage as they are mandated to engage in the various reformatory programmes, an opportunity which awaiting trial persons may not have. Most of the convicted inmates also benefit from the educational programmes in the Custodial Centers. The PRO stated that in Kano command, a total of 38 convicted inmates sat for and passed the NECO SSCE and are now seeking for admission at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Mushahu stated that due to increased interest of the inmates in academics, the Service is working with NOUN to establish more study centres in the Custodial Centres in the state. He mentioned that one of the obstacles been faced is lack of study facilities like computers and materials study.
While others are benefited with other reformatory program in the Custodial Centers.
The PRO also stated that the Federal Government has introduce the non-custodial measures like parole, community service, probation etc. to address the overcrowding conundrum in Custodial Centers. He commended some judges who are complementing the Federal Government’s effort by making maximum use of non custodial sentencing.
The PRO assured that the Nigerian Correctional Service will continue to pursue its mandate of keeping safe and humane custody of the legally interned, while protecting the society safer by reforming rehabilitating and reintegrating offenders.