Abuja: The Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Human Rights Violations in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s non-custodial justice system. On the fourth day of a public hearing in Abuja, the panel examined the gaps in alternatives to imprisonment such as fines, compensation, community service, probation, and parole.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Uju Agomoh, the Secretary of the panel, in her summary of the day’s proceedings in Abuja, said that the NCoS must improve the application of non-custodial measures to ease overcrowding in correctional centres. She highlighted the critical issue of inmates given the option of fines or compensation but unable to pay. The panel has asked the NCoS to submit comprehensive data on inmates released through the intervention of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, including the total amount spent and the number of beneficiaries.
Records before the panel indicate that in December 2023, the Minister of Interior secured the release of 4,086 inmates by raising N585 million through private contributions to pay fines and compensation for low-risk offenders. The panel commended this move but requested detailed breakdowns by custodial centres and states. It also directed the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to provide records of fines paid on behalf of inmates over the years and urged collaboration with stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), to ensure efficient fine administration.
Agomoh expressed concern that inmates often served months in custody for unpaid fines as low as N10,000 or N30,000, which incurs a greater cost to the government. She called for a comprehensive review of the fine system and the establishment of a Victim Compensation Fund to address unresolved compensation payments preventing eligible inmates’ release.
The panel also queried the implementation of Section 37(1) of the NCoS Act, 2019, which provides for non-custodial measures. It directed the NCoS to submit state-by-state statistics on community service, probation, parole, and related interventions. On funding, the panel questioned the lack of budgetary allocation for non-custodial services despite legal backing and requested the NCoS to provide budget records from 2019 to date, including instances when such requests were denied or excluded.
Agomoh stated that the panel had demanded updated staffing records for the Non-Custodial Directorate. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NCoS disclosed having 1,563 officers in the directorate, with disparities noted, such as Kebbi State with 131 officers and Imo State with only seven. The panel further called for detailed deployment data across the 774 local government areas and recruitment plans.
Additionally, the NCoS was asked to submit its strategic plan on facilities, training, operational manuals, and resource allocation. The panel acknowledged the role of academic partnerships, such as social science interns engaged in Anambra State, but stressed the need for proper training and oversight. International and local civil society groups, including UNICEF, United Action Against Corruption and Injustice International, and Prison Fellowship, were recognized for their submissions and recommendations, which the panel promised to review.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Chairperson of the Panel and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, thanked all stakeholders, the media, and Nigerians following the proceedings online. Ajani announced that a closed-door session would be held on Friday, Aug. 15, by invitation only, and urged stakeholders to submit any final documents beforehand.