Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, is calling on Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to reconsider the plan to pay N500 million in fines for 4,000 convicts. Falana, also the Chairman of ASCAB, commended the initiative in a statement on Sunday.
In the statement, Tunji-Ojo, in a recent interview (not on Channels Television), announced a plan to decongest correctional centers by ensuring payment of fines imposed on the convicts across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, totaling N500 million within four weeks.
However, Falana suggests a review of the plan, proposing that the earmarked N500 million be redirected towards the welfare of inmates in correctional centers.
He recommends exploring alternative decongestion policies while emphasizing the importance of presidential and gubernatorial pardons for the convicts.
Falana recalls the release of 7,813 inmates during the COVID-19 outbreak under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to curb virus spread.
He suggests the Interior Minister seek support from President Bola Tinubu and state governors for similar pardons.
Additionally, Falana draws attention to inmates at Ikoyi Correctional Centre affected by the #EndSARS protests, stating that their case files were destroyed.
He urges the Interior Minister to ensure their immediate release, as the state can no longer prosecute them due to lost case files.
