The Federal Government has revealed that over 4000 inmates are held in custodial centres across the country over inability to pay fine.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this on Saturday when the Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi visited him at his office in Abuja.
“Over 70 percent of the 79,000 inmates are awaiting trial. We have over 4000 inmates in the facilities for their inability to pay various fines,” he said.
“We believe we can reduce the number of inmates in our correctional facilities by about forty percent if we explore non-custodial alternatives as provided for in the Correctional Service Act,” he added.
