Lagos- Some Nigerians have backed the call by the Nigerian Prisons (NPS) for more application of noncustodial sentences as punishment by the courts as a means of decongesting the facilities.
They made the call on Thursday in Lagos, saying that such was vital in decongesting the prisons and safeguard the lives of the inmates.
Non-custodial sentence is any form of punishment which does not involve being sent to prison such as fines, judicial beatings, various mandatory but “open’’ therapy and courses.
It also involves restriction orders, loss or suspension of civil rights, or even suspended sentences.
The Nigeria Prisons authorities, apparently worried by the condition of its facilities, on July 15, suggested that noncustodial sentences should be applied more as punishment to decongest the prisons nationwide.
According to the authorities, out of 38,808 inmates awaiting trial, only 17,170 are convicted with 1,669 condemned convicts and 550 on life sentences.
Mr Francis Enobore, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), had told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that effective use of noncustodial sentences would help in tackling prison congestion.
A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Monday Ubani, told NAN that noncustodial sentences were one fast way the prisons could be decongested.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Many of the people in the prisons are the ones awaiting trial for so many years; people that are already sentenced are less compared to people on trial.
“It is not all matters you carry people and put in the prison.
“When it comes to the issue of sentencing, the judiciary can also apply another method; people can be sentenced to community service and other punishments that will not keep an offender in prison.
“These are ways whereby the prisons can be decongested,’’ he said.
Another lawyer, Mr Jiti Ogunye, corroborated Ubani, adding that building more prisons was also part of the ways to decongest Nigerian prisons.
Mr Wilson Esangbedor, a security expert, added that the country could go further to have suspended sentences.
“A suspended sentence is when someone has been sentenced for like10 years, such a person can serve for 5 years in prison and the rest can be on parole if he is making efforts to change his bad habit.
“These are ways to decongest the prison,’’ he said.
Another lawyer, Mr Joseph Ololade, also told NAN that noncustodial sentence should be considered for minor offences.
“If anyone steals a chicken for instance, such person I think should be sentenced to community service instead of sending him to prison,’’ he said.
A businessman, Mr Joshua Onyebuchi, said that government as it applies noncustodial sentences should rehabilitate and expand the existing prisons and build new ones.
“Government should make conditions in the prisons conducive for them to effective carry out its reformatory role. (NAN)
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