Taraba Judiciary To Adopt Non Custodial Punishment On Offenders
By Martins Abochol
Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of Taraba has said that the courts would adopt non custodial sentences on some criminal offenders in the state.
Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of Taraba State
Justice Agya made the declaration on Tuesday while playing host to Controller John Francis, Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) Taraba State Command who paid him courtesy visit in Jalingo.
He said that the measure was to enhance prison decongestion, adding that such convicts would be sentenced to provide some community services within their jurisdictions.
He expressed his concern that some inmates who had no business staying long in the custodian centres were held in the centres.
Justice Agya said the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) had already made provision for alternative sentencing of offenders in which the non custodial conviction was part of it.
The Chief Judge recalled that he had conducted jail delivery in 2024 and was preparing to hold another one soonest.
He also noted that the bureaucratic process of police investigations and the prosecution of cases by the ministry of justice also contributed to lack of speedy dispensation of justice.
According to him, the power of prosecution does not lie in the hands of courts as the police after carrying out investigations, passed the files to the ministry of justice who finally determine prosecution of cases.
He gave assurance that he would collaborate with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to discuss the way forward especially as it mattered on the prison decongestion initiative.
Justice Agya appreciated the controller for his collaboration, extending his warm
congratulations on his well-deserved appointment and posting to
Taraba State.
“Your visit is both timely and significant. The Nigerian correctional service remains a critical stakeholder in the
administration of justice.
“It is particularly in the areas of custodial
management, production of defendants before the courts and the broader objectives of criminal Justice reform, including decongestion of custodial Centers and the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
” I am pleased to note that the Judiciary of Taraba State enjoys a cordial working relationship with the Nigerian correctional service.
” This synergy has contributed positively to the smooth conduct of criminal Proceedings and the custody.
“I wish to assure you that the judiciary under my watch is committed to sustaining and strengthening this collaboration in the overall interest of justice, Public safety, and the rule of law,” he said.
In his remark, Mr John Francis said his visit to some facilities upon his assumption of duty in the state, he found 422 inmates in the 13 custodian centres in the state.
He said while 22 inmates were on death sentence row, 111 were convicted and the remaining 311 were on awaiting trials.
He said the number posed a serious risk to the custodial administration, adding that the ratio was alarming.
He appealed to the Chief Judge to conduct jail delivery on the facilities.
He also appealed to the Chief Judge to ensure speedy trial of the awaiting trial inmates, suggesting the establishment of Prison Decongestion Committee to enhance decongestion of inmates.
The Controller expressed his determination to deploy custodian officers to various courts who would monitor compliance from non custodial convicts.
He promisedĀ to build on the already existing relationship between the service and the court.
He requested the state judiciary to assist him to succeed in his tenure as the 19th Controller of the command.
