A civil rights group, the Young Nigerian Rights Organization, is urging Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take immediate action to decongest prisons in the state.
The group’s lead activist, Comrade Victor Ojei (also known as Wong Box), emphasizes the need for the governor to grant amnesty or pardon to eligible inmates to relieve overcrowded custodial facilities, implement community service or probation for minor and first-time offenders, reducing congestion in prisons and promoting rehabilitation.
He also advise the Governor to leverage community service as an alternative sentencing option to prevent minor offenders from mixing with hardened criminals.
“The law empowers courts to utilize community service, which reduce[s] congestion in prisons,” helps rehabilitate prisoners, and prevents “convicts who commit simple offences from mixing with hardened criminals.” Comrade Ojei said
The Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022 supports these measures, shifting the focus from punitive to reformative approaches.
This law empowers judges and magistrates to impose non-custodial measures in appropriate cases, ensuring minor offenders aren’t needlessly detained.
