Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action has secured the release of 25 inmates across five correctional centre facilities in four states by paying their fines.

The Executive Director of PRAWA, Dr Uju Agomoh, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja.

The Fine4Inmates project was an initiative of the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of the former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in partnership with PRAWA.

The project was implemented in response to the congestion issue identified as a significant challenge for custodial centres at a high-level workshop and conference on decongestion and reforms in corrections administration organised by the Ministry and PRAWA in May 2023.

Ms Agomoh said the Fine4Inmates Project had the core objective of reducing congestion in custodial centres across Nigeria through the payment of fines to inmates with the option of fines.

She said the project also focused on the core issues of rehabilitation and the reintegration of released inmates into society.

Ms Agomoh added that PRAWA was tasked with securing the release of inmates with the option of fine, which led to the launch of the Fine4Inmates initiative.

The PRAWA boss said the project solicited the support of corporate organisations and the public through newspaper publications and social media advertisements.

“At the state’s custodial centre, the number of inmates released were 10 in Umuahia, Abia State.

“Two inmates in the Enugu Custodial Centre, eight in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kuje Custodial Centre, two in the Kurmawa Custodial Centre, Kano State and three in the Kano Central Custodial Centre.

“This brings us to the total number of inmates released across these centres as 25,” she said.

Ms Agomoh said some of the beneficiaries of the project were interviewed, and they shared their stories.

Which, she said, included the reason for their arrests, the length of their custodial sentences, the amount of their fines, and suggestions on how to prevent them and other offenders from returning to a life of crime.

“Interestingly, the Fine4Inmates Project is one of Rauf Aregbesola’s initiatives sustained by the administration of the present Minister of Interior, Dr Tunde Olubumi-Ojo.

“In partnership with PRAWA and other stakeholders, the minister is engaging in the nationwide release of inmates upon payment of their fines and compensation.

Ms Agomoh said the process of securing the release of the individuals posed numerous challenges, adding that the high sum of money given as an option of fine in some centres was a major one.

She also mentioned discrepancies in information, saying that complications arose due to discrepancies between court records, warrants and correctional centre records.

“Additionally, there were variances in vital information, such as charge numbers and the nature of sentences.

“Despite facing challenges, the PRAWA team overcame corruption, bureaucracy, and lackadaisical attitudes to release the necessary information successfully.

“Reconciling information and rectifying discrepancies were crucial steps in the process,” she said.

Ms Agomoh, however, said addressing the challenges required collaborative efforts from stakeholders.

This, she said, was to ensure the effectiveness of initiatives like the Fine4Inmates project in achieving the goals of inmate release, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

Ms Agomoh said PRAWA also supported the jail delivery programme of the Lagos State Judiciary by supporting released inmates for transport back home and engaging them in different rehabilitation programmes under the same objective.

This, she said, was in line with PRAWA’s decongestion initiatives, adding that the organisation provided logistics and counselling support to inmates released by the Lagos State Judiciary.

She said, “PRAWA actively participated in the custodial centre decongestion exercise led by the Lagos State Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Correctional Service, Nigerian Police, and civil society organisations.

“This initiative, guided by relevant legal frameworks, aimed to scrutinise and release inmates to alleviate overcrowding in custodial centres.

“PRAWA played a crucial role in conducting counselling sessions for the released inmates and also introduced a comprehensive rehabilitation programme that commenced on July 21 at the PRAWA Lagos office.

“Additionally, transport money was provided to all released inmates, enabling them to travel to their various destinations.

“This holistic approach to custodial centre decongestion and rehabilitation was well-received and appreciated by the freed individuals,” she said. 

(NAN)