From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Edo State Controller of Corrections, Controller Sunday Oyakhire, has said over 30 inmates have been profiled for parole as efforts to decongest the facilities in the state.
He disclosed this at the roundtable stakeholders meeting on Non-Custodial Measures (NCM) organized by the Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The Controller, represented by Ikpea Jonathan, Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Non-Custodial, Edo State, said they have visited two of their Centres where they sensitized the inmates on the need to embrace parole.
“It is a timely event. We have been trying to see what we can do before now for the inmates. It is going to benefit the inmates the more. Just like we are going about it, I think on the 13th of June, we had a sensitization with our inmates on parole, Edo State here, we went to the two custodial centres.
“There is a high hope because as it is now, we have profiled almost about 33 inmates to be handled under parole.
“The community service has been going on before, restorative justice, we have been doing, so parole is the next stage we are going and this meeting is another roundtable meeting which PRAWA has brought to us”, Oyakhire said.
Speaking on the benefits of the non-custodial measures in the Nigerian justice system, the president, Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA),
Uju Agomoh, an Associate Professor of Criminology and Security Studies, Christland University, Abeokuta, said the purpose is to highlight the advantages of alternatives to imprisonment.
She said its key benefits include: Reduced government costs (food, medical, facility expenses), decreased negative impacts of incarceration on inmates and families, improved societal safety through community supervision.
The Associate Professor added that Non-Custodial options like community service and probation offer rehabilitation and cost savings, creating a “win-win” situation for the government and the society.
On the part of the Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, represented by Justice Efe Ikonmwonba, he expressed hope for an inter-agency collaboration to reduce Correction Centres congestion by properly implementing laws.
The chief judge commended the organizers of the programme, offering court support.
He said the overall goal is to alleviate overcrowding through legal implementation.
Caption: Participants at the stakeholders meeting in Benin