Buhari To Release Sick, Aged And Prisoners Awaiting Trial Due To COVID-19 Outbreak

President Muahmmadu Buhari has charged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to release some prisoners in overcrowded prisons in the country in order to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

In a State letter addressed to Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, President Buhari noted that “most correctional centers are housing inmates beyond their capacity and the overcrowded facilities pose a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general. “

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Nigeria has about 74,127 prisoners out of which 52,226 are Awaiting Trial Prisoners.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government granted reprieve to some 2,600 inmates to stop the spread of coronavirus in prisons during an outbreak.

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The President petitioned the State Chief Judges to embark on immediate visit to all custodial/correctional centers within their respective states to identify and release deserving inmates where that has not been done already.

“ATPs who have no confirmed criminal cases against them, aged inmates and terminally ill may be discharged” parts of the statement read.

SOURCE: AfricaCelebrities.Com