FG Seeking Funds for the Release of 4,000 Inmates in Custodial Centers Nationwide

The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is shopping for funds to effect the release of 4,000 inmates in various custodial centers nationwide who could not pay fines imposed on them by courts.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who puts the fine at about N500 million, said the release of the 4,000 inmates would help in de-congesting the prisons.

The minister, speaking on a television program, said his ministry was in talks with some organizations to raise the N500 million to pay the fines.

He assured that the fines would be cleared within the next two weeks to facilitate the release of the inmates.

The minister also said he had met with the attorney general of the federation to explore ways of fast-tracking pending cases in court to reduce the growing number of awaiting trial inmates.

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The statement reads: “The first thing I did immediately I assumed the office was to set up a committee to be able to review the situation of our correctional centres.

“We discovered that more than 4,000 of these inmates, as I have said before, are still in custody due to inability to pay the total fine of about five hundred and something million. And I can tell you we have gone very far dealing with the private sector in terms of CSR and etcetera, putting this money together.

“By the grace of God in the next one month we will have been able to pay the fines of over 4,000 people to reduce the present 79,000 inmates to 75,000 inmates.”