On Monday, the Nigerian Correctional Service bemoaned the fact that some released prisoners are being compelled to return to its facilities due to social rejection and shame.
Haliru Nababa, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, voiced the concern during The Podium’s annual national conference, a social platform for justice, which was hosted in Abuja.
Relating to the NCoS Non-Custodial Head, DCG Abolade Benson, Nababa expressed sadness over the obstacles that the process of reintegrating ex-offenders into society is facing.
He stated that, “Our primary duty is to reform and we are trying our best. Many people still view people leaving correctional facilities as criminals once they secure their freedom.
“The society is not ready to accept them. So they find it convenient to return to these prisons.”
The controller general also commended President Bola Tinubu and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, for evaluating and raising the daily meal stipend for prisoners nationwide to N1,250.
In order to handle growing food costs and enhance the wellbeing of prisoners, the federal government last week approved a 50% increase in the allowance.
Nababa called the rise a positive step forward.
“Before the recent increase in the allowance for inmates, it used to be N750 per day. That was before. Now, by the good gesture of President Bola Tinubu and our Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, it has been increased to N1,250.
“With that amount, we are trying our best to ensure they get adequate food. That is the situation of things,” he stated.
The NCoS’s most recent statistics show that there are presently 84,575 prisoners in Nigeria.
In the meantime, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, has asked for patience, stating that people should stop pressuring his officers to carry out the court’s orders.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Tino Dangana defended Egbetokun before the panel. He stated that a court can only order the police to hold a person in custody for a maximum of two weeks.
He said, “Our duty is to arrest and charge suspects to court. Again, it is however the responsibility of the court to convict or free a suspect. There is a missing link somewhere. Presently, the court is being overburdened.
“I am not blaming the judiciary completely but there is a disconnect somewhere. For instance, in the legal framework, when police arrest a suspect, an application can be written to the court for the suspect to be remanded in custody for two weeks.
“That is the maximum a court can grant the police to keep a suspect. I must also say we have improved in the protection of suspects’ rights to meet international standards.”
The Podium for Social Justice Convener, Felix Akpoi, praised the Nigerian Police and the management of the prisons in his speech, noting that Nigerians have noticed a notable improvement in their services.
However, Akpoi noted that corruption and the “trust factor” remain pervasive throughout the system.
“I think the police are doing their best in the way and manner they can. But there is still an issue of trust, which boils down to the issue of social justice that we are discussing today. Many people have always asked how Nigeria can implement the kind of correctional facilities we see in Turkey.
“My response to it is that it is possible in Nigeria. But the fact remains: who do we trust to dispense the money accurately as it is being done overseas? The trust factor is a big problem we are concerned about. It is a subject matter of today’s conference. But I know that with time, we can make an impact.
“Again, we have mosques and Churches as well as pastors and imams. Yet, there is crime going on in the country every day. But does it stop the pastor or imam from preaching? We will keep doing the best we can on our part too with the hope that we get the desired result sooner or later,” he stated.
