AREGBESOLA WANTS TO FREE 30% OF ALL PRISONERS IN THE COUNTRY

Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, believes that 30 percent of inmates in custodial facilities across the country should be released.

Aregbesola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, October 9, that he will meet with state governors to decide on the mass release of the inmates, adding that 90 percent of them are being held for violating various state laws.

According to him, more than 70% of the country's 75,635 inmates are awaiting trial. He stated that decongesting the 253 custodial facilities across the country was necessary because some inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

"I have written the Nigerian Governors Forum to allow me to come and address them on how they can support the process of decongestion. Because the governors must buy into this system for us to do a massive decongestion especially of Awaiting Trial Inmates.

If we get the buy in of state judicial authorities and the government of the states, we can pull out 30 per cent of those who are there," he said.

Again, you arrested a boy under the bridge, there is no fixed crime and he is there forever and so on and so forth. So, we need the buying in and support from state governments.

This is for them to critically know the situation and let them set up committees that will profile all those who are there. And help either to convict, release them or see if they have overstayed their required time," the minister said.