Stakeholders in the justice sector in Katsina State, are brainstorming towards finding a solution and enhance the criminal justice system in the state.
The stakeholders are being engaged in a two-day workshop, beginning from Tuesday, organised by the CLEEN foundation and supported by the MacArthur foundation.
The Executive Director of the CLEEN foundation, Mr Gad Peter said at the launch of the meeting, that participants will discuss ways to de-politicise the parole process.
Peter also stressed that the meeting will provide a standard for the criteria of selecting inmates.
“It is my great pleasure to address this esteemed gathering of legal professionals, scholars, and practitioners, dedicated to enhancing our criminal justice system.
“The administration of justice is the cornerstone of any society that upholds the rule of law and our collective efforts are pivotal in ensuring that the cornerstone remains robust and effective.
“This workshop provides a platform for critical discussions, sharing insights and evaluating the current state of our legal framework on parole and broader implications on criminal justice administration in Nigeria.
“Parole is a critical component of our justice system that aims at rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into society,as law-abiding citizens,” he said.
According to him, parole strikes a balance between punitive measures and the need for rehabilitation, thus recognising the potential for reform and positive change.
He however, said that for parole to achieve its intended outcomes, it must be underpinned by a sound legal framework and effective administration.
“Over the next two days, we will delve into various aspects of parole, including its legislative underpinnings, procedural challenges, and the role of different stakeholders in its administration.
“We will also examine best practices from other jurisdictions, which can serve as benchmarks for improving our own system.
“Your presence here today is a testament to your dedication to justice and your willingness to contribute to meaningful reforms,” he told the participants.
Peter further encouraged them to actively participate and collaborate on developing practical solutions that can be implemented in the legal and judicial processes.
“Together, we can work towards a more efficient and humane criminal justice system that not only punishes wrong doing, but also promotes rehabilitation and reintegration,” he expressed.
In his remarks, Mr Salaudeen Hakeem, the CLEEN foundation’s Programme Director, said the congestion in Nigeria’s prison facilities has reached crisis levels.
He stressed that many inmates are languishing behind bars for years due to the non-implementation of parole.
Hakeem then revealed that several lives were lost in prison breaks across the country, in the past five years, with 17 different attacks recorded during the same period.
He attributed the congestion and subsequent prison breaks to the failure of many states to implement parole.
“Many inmates were left and they could be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society instead, yet they have been languishing in overcrowded facilities.” He highlighted.
Hakeem, also cited examples of inmates who require as little as N15,000 to regain their freedom, but have been stuck in prison for over 10 years due to the non-implementation of parole.
Also, the state’s parole officer, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Nazif Danmusa, described the stakeholders’ meeting as a welcome idea.
“We look forward to the implementation of non-custodial measures in our act, section 37 of the NCS, which stated that parole can be done to an offender, who portrayed good character during the course of his stay,” He said. (NAN)
By Abbas Bamalli