The Federal Government of Nigeria have granted about 2,600 inmates freedom due to the growing spread of #Coronavirus Pandemic in the country.
According to the Minister of Interior: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Federal approved the release of the inmates as a measure to decongest the prisons across the country especially as the country battle to contain the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The minister further stated that:
“In a symbolic gesture of the amnesty given to 2,600 inmates across Nigeria, 41 Federal inmates and 29 FCT inmates making a total of 70 inmates who met the above criteria will be released today from the Kuje Custodial Center in Abuja.
“This amnesty will not apply to inmates sentenced for violent extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and so on.
“The governors of the 36 states under whose jurisdiction most of the inmates were incarcerated will complete the exercise in line with the federal principle.”
On the flip side, renowned Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria: Mr Femi Falana had earlier written to the National Judicial Council to hear cases via technological means since the courtrooms are now shut due to the lockdown. In his words :
“Since the Federal Government has relaxed the lockdown by allowing markets, shops and stalls selling food and groceries to open to customers between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm daily, the National Judicial Council ought to review the suspension of court sittings to enable them attend to urgent matters to ensure that thousands of people who are either awaiting trial or under investigation are not subjected to unlawful detention.”
