The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that the Consolidated Federal Capital Territory Courts Sentencing Guidelines and Practice will accelerate the decongestion of correctional centres nationwide.
The Minister made this known during the signing of the Consolidated Federal Capital Territory Courts, Custodial and Non – Custodial Sentencing Practice Directions, 2020.
He said that the introduction of the non-custodial sentences by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and the recent provision of a clear legislative and institutional framework for their implementation by the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 were efforts by the Federal Government aimed at addressing the colossal problem of congestion in correctional facilities in Nigeria.
Also at the ceremony, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, who doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on correctional service reform, said that the signing of the sentencing guideline is a milestone achievement in the FCT Judiciary, because lack of sentences guideline in the past, has led to misconception with the court.
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The Custodial and Non – Custodial Sentencing came to light during the covid-19 lockdown to prevent spread of the virus.
Editor: Tunde Orebiyi
