Federal Government Initiates N585 Million Release for Inmate Fine, Aims to Decongest Prisons
The Federal Government has initiated a program to disburse a release fine of N585 million for 4,000 inmates, aiming to alleviate congestion in correctional facilities across the country.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, officially launched the initiative at Kuje prison in Abuja, emphasising the objective of decongesting correctional facilities and mitigating prolonged detention due to a lack of bail funds.
The program targets inmates with fines not exceeding N1 million, and approximately 4,068 individuals fall within this category.
Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the overcrowded conditions in custodial centres, stating that as of November 17, 2023, there were around 8,804 inmates in 253 facilities nationwide, surpassing the total installed capacity of less than 50,000.
To fund this initiative, the Minister announced that the government would not bear the financial burden alone; instead, it would be funded through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative involving contributions from private sector entities and philanthropists nationwide.
The total fund of N585 million was raised through CSR initiatives, reflecting a collaborative effort to address the challenges faced by indigent inmates unable to afford their fines.
The Minister stressed the significance of the initiative in promoting proper reformation and rehabilitation of offenders.
He also mentioned that the government, in addition to paying the fines, would provide each released inmate with a stipend to facilitate their reintegration into their communities.
Earlier in October, the Minister had confirmed the government’s commitment to paying N500 million as bail fines for 4,000 inmates with bail terms not exceeding N1 million.
During an interview on Arise TV, he assured that the fines would be settled, and the inmates would be released within four weeks.
The funds for this initiative were sourced through engagements with the private sector as part of their CSR commitments.
Source: Nairametrics
