Taraba moves to decongest Jalingo Custodial Centre, considers amnesty for deserving inmates

The Taraba State Government has commenced moves to decongest the Jalingo Medium Security Custodial Centre, with plans to recommend deserving inmates for amnesty under the state’s prerogative of mercy.

The developmen followed concerns over overcrowding at the facility, which was designed to accommodate 250 inmates but currently houses more than 500 people, putting pressure on its facilities and raising concerns about the welfare of inmates.

A report presented on the condition of the centre indicated that about 250 inmates were sleeping on mats, while a significant proportion of those in custody were awaiting trial, further highlighting the need for urgent intervention.

The situation came under scrutiny over the weekend when a delegation comprising officials of the Taraba State Government, members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Legal Aid Council visited the facility to assess its condition and explore measures to address the congestion.

The delegation was led by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Yakubu Maikasuwa (SAN), and received by the Controller of Corrections, Taraba State Command, John Francis.

While briefing the delegation, Francis identified overcrowding, inadequate facilities and delays in the administration of justice as some of the major challenges confronting the custodial centre.

He called for the accelerated determination of cases involving inmates, regular review of pending cases and wider adoption of non-custodial measures to reduce the number of people being held in the facility.

The Controller also advocated the use of plea bargaining where appropriate, stressing that such measures could help reduce congestion while ensuring that justice was served without unnecessarily keeping inmates in custody.

Francis further urged the government to consider inmates who had demonstrated good conduct, acquired vocational skills or education and shown evidence of rehabilitation for possible release under appropriate legal provisions.

Responding to the concerns, Maikasuwa said the state Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy was already considering the issue and would recommend inmates who met the stipulated conditions for amnesty.

“We have this committee we call the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.There are guidelines upon which the committee can make recommendations, either bordering on ill health, good conduct, and then persons who have substantially served their sentences,” he said.

“The committee would meet as soon as possible to consider eligible inmates, after which amnesty would be granted to those found deserving”, the commissioner assured.

Maikasuwa stressed that the committee would rely on established guidelines in determining inmates qualified for the intervention, noting that considerations could include their health status, conduct and the extent to which they had served their sentences.

While describing the general condition of the custodial centre as fair, the Attorney-General acknowledged the need for improvements and assured that Governor Agbu Kefas would intervene in areas requiring government attention.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the NBA, Jalingo Branch, David Philemon, disclosed that the Prison Decongestion Committee was working to reduce the inmate population and address legal issues responsible for prolonged detention.

“The committee would also review cases involving fines, with a view to ensuring that inmates were not kept in custody unnecessarily where the law provided avenues for their release,” Philemon said.

The latest intervention, as made known by some staff of the facility, underscores growing efforts by the Taraba State Government and justice-sector stakeholders to tackle overcrowding at the Jalingo custodial facility through a combination of legal review, speedy trial, non-custodial measures, rehabilitation and the release of qualified inmates.

With more than twice the centre’s designed capacity currently in custody, stakeholders said sustained judicial intervention and improved infrastructure would be critical to achieving a lasting solution to congestion at the facility.