- Field officers were urged to engage state Chief Judges and Attorneys-General to accelerate prosecutorial processes
Over 48,000 inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities are awaiting trial, according to Sylvester Nwakuche, the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Speaking at an interactive session with field officers on Monday, Nwakuche revealed that as of January 6, 2025, there were 48,932 Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) in custody.
“Overcrowding, no doubt, stands out as the most pressing challenge of the NCoS,” he said, highlighting the strain on Nigeria’s correctional system.
To tackle the issue, Nwakuche announced plans to collaborate with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the Inspector-General of Police, and other prosecuting agencies to expedite trials. He also unveiled efforts to implement non-custodial measures and early release mechanisms while constructing 3,000-capacity ultramodern facilities.
“This administration will explore the window of opportunities as provided by the non-custodial measures to address the influx of inmates into our facilities,” he noted.
Field officers were urged to engage state Chief Judges and Attorneys-General to accelerate prosecutorial processes. “Some of them need to be educated on this,” Nwakuche added.
Priority, he said, would be given to non-bailable offences such as armed robbery and murder, which account for over 60% of ATP cases.
The announcement underscores the challenges facing Nigeria’s correctional system, where overcrowding and prolonged detentions remain pressing concerns.
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