Nasarawa State To Establish Custodian Centres For Minors
The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir, has said that Nasarawa State will soon establish custodian centresfor minors who were caught committing offence in line with the law.
The Chief Judge made the disclosure on Tuesday (August 22, 2023) at Nasarawa Custodian Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Nasarawa Local Government Area while on routine visit of custodian facilities in the State.
She explained that it was wrong to put minors at the same facilities with adult offenders, hence the need to have a separate centre for them.
“I have consulted Governor Abdullahi Sule that the isolation centre at Shabu community of Lafia, the State capital be used for this purpose.
“The governor directed that I write a memo in that regard and by the grace of God, we will submit the memo on Thursday, 24.
“The facility is well secured and furnished already and once our memo is approved, we shall have where to keep minors who committed offence,” she added.
The Chief Judge said that based on the mandate of her office, she has been empowered to go round the custodian facilities from time to time to review cases of awaiting trials inmates with a view of ensuring that justice is served.
She released nine inmates awaiting trials at the Nasarawa Custodian Centre after reviewing their cases and discovered that they were not supposed to be in custody.
The CJ therefore, advised the released inmates to work hard and convince the society that they are now reformed, to enable the public trust them again and accept them.
The CJ was accompanied in the visit by judges, Legal Aids Council of Nigeria, Human Right Commission, among others.
Earlier, Inusa Adamu, the Nasarawa State Comptroller of the Nigeria Correctional Service lauded the CJ for the visit and expressed optimism that some inmates would regain freedom at the end of the day.
The State Comptroller however, complained that their facilities in the State were overstretched due to increasing numbers of inmates.
Mr. Adamu also disclosed that based on the amendment law establishing the service, they have started rejecting minors in the State and appealed to the Chief Judge to facilitate the establishment of custodian home for minor offenders. (NAN).
