. announces planned pay of N500m fines for 4000 inmates’ release
The Interior Minister, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has unfolded a new strategy to decongest the correctional centres in the country, most of which are spilling over with inmates.
As part of this strategy, he said the Federal Government is raising the N500 million fines slammed by the justice system on over 4,000 inmates for payment.
Tunji-Ojo had recently disclosed the government plan to decongest the correctional centres by releasing inmates who are still being held over their inability to pay court fines.
Speaking on Saturday, the minister explained that he had reached out to private companies and organisations to channel their Corporate Social Responsibilitily (CSR) in this direction with the aim of raising the total fines.
He assured that the government would not spend a dime to decongest the correctional facilities, and that the money, when raised, will be properly expended on payment of the fines.
In his words: “Border security and correctional centres’ reform are our major priorities for now. That is why we about to reach the fag end of raising N500m to pay fines placed on 4000 inmates.
“We have reached out to private organisations and companies to help raise the funds as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility and I am sure this will be sorted in a short time”.
