An organisation, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action ,PRAWA, has secured the release of 25 inmates across five correctional centre facilities in four states by paying their fines.
Dr. Uju Agomoh, the Executive Director of PRAWA told the News Agency of Nigeria that the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with PRAWA launched the Fine4Inmates project.
In May 2023, the Ministry and PRAWA organized a high-level workshop and conference on Decongestion and Reforms in Corrections Administration.
The workshop and conference identified congestion as a major difficulty facing custodial centers, which prompted the implementation of the project.
Agomoh said Fine4Inmates Project had the core objective of reducing congestion in custodial centres across Nigeria through the payment of fines to inmates with the option of fines.
She said the project also focused on the core issues of rehabilitation and reintegration of released inmates into society.
Agomoh added that PRAWA was tasked with securing the release of inmates with the option of fine, which led to the launch of the Fine4Inmates initiative.
The PRAWA boss said the project solicited the support of corporate organisations and the public through newspaper publications and social media advertisements.
“At the states custodial centre, number of inmates released are 10 inmates in Umuahia, Abia State.
“Two inmates in the Enugu Custodial Centre, eight in Kuje Custodial Centre, two in Kurmawa Custodial Centre, Kano State and three in Kano Central Custodial Centre.
“This brings us to the total number of inmates released across these centres as 25,” she discloses.
Agomoh said some of the beneficiaries of the project were interviewed, and they shared their stories.
This, she said, included the reason for their arrests: the length of their custodial sentences, the amount of their fines, and suggestions on how to prevent them and other offenders from returning to a life of crime.
“Interestingly, the Fine4Inmates Project is one of Mr Rauf Aregbesola’s initiatives sustained by the administration of the present Minister of Interior Dr Tunde Olubumi-Ojo.
“In partnership with PRAWA and other stakeholders, the minister is engaging in the nationwide release of inmates upon payment of their fines and compensation.
Agomoh said the process of securing the release of the individuals posed numerous challenges adding that high sum of money given as option of fine in some centres, was a major.
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She also mentioned discrepancies in Information saying that complications arose due to discrepancies between court records, warrants and correctional centre records.
“Additionally, there were variances in vital information, such as charge numbers and the nature of sentences.
“Despite facing challenges, the PRAWA team overcame corruption, bureaucracy, and lackadaisical attitudes to release the necessary information successfully.
“Reconciling information and rectifying discrepancies were crucial steps in the process,” she said.
Agomoh, however, said addressing the challenges required collaborative efforts from stakeholders.
It was to ensure the effectiveness of initiatives like the Fine4Inmates project in achieving the goals of inmate release, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
Agomoh said PRAWA also supported the Jail Delivery Programme of the Lagos State Judiciary by supporting released inmates for transport back home and engaging them in different rehabilitation programmes under the same objective.
She stated that it was in line with PRAWA’s decongestion initiatives adding that the organisation provided logistics and counseling support to inmate’s released by the Lagos State Judiciary.
“PRAWA actively participated in the custodial centre decongestion exercise led by the Lagos State Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Correctional Service, Nigerian Police, and civil society organisations.
“This initiative, guided by relevant legal frameworks, aimed to scrutinise and release inmates to alleviate overcrowding in custodial centres.
“PRAWA played a crucial role of conducting counselling sessions for the released inmates and also introduced a comprehensive rehabilitation programmes which commenced on July 21, at the PRAWA Lagos Office.
“Additionally, transport money was provided to all released inmates, enabling them to travel to their various destinations.
“This holistic approach to custodial centre decongestion and rehabilitation was well-received and appreciated by the freed individuals,” she said
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