Abuja: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced that 28,149 inmates were released nationwide in 2024 after the payment of fines and compensations. Deputy Controller General of NCoS, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, revealed this during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and other Violations against the service.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Idris noted that the release of inmates was facilitated through the payment of fines and compensations, which is considered a charitable act. He urged both the panel and the public to engage in similar charitable interventions to help decongest correctional facilities, thereby aiding the Federal Government’s efforts. Idris emphasized the importance of following the example set by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who not only paid fines and compensations but also provided repatriation money to the released inmates.
Idris further stated that reducing the number of inmates in custody enhances opportunities for proper rehabilitation. He highlighted that the philosophy of NCoS has always been focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment, even before the enactment of the 2019 Act.
Assistant Controller General (ACG) Cyrus Lekatile also addressed the legal limitations faced by custodial centers in holding inmates without proper documentation, particularly concerning compensation. He explained that the NCoS cannot legally keep individuals in custody without valid remand documents. If an inmate is unable to pay the fine, they must serve the sentence, while compensation issues are addressed through legal procedures.
Lekatile outlined the process for handling unpaid compensation at the end of an inmate’s sentence, including the conversion of compensation into a jail term or court intervention for release. He also mentioned ongoing legislative amendments to the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, which propose the creation of a Victim Compensation Fund backed by federal allocations. This fund aims to ensure compensation to victims without burdening inmates who are unable to pay.
The ACG added that while inmates would still need to perform tasks to support the fund, any money generated would contribute to the victim’s trust fund. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in supporting victims while maintaining a focus on rehabilitation within correctional facilities.