The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) has commended the Federal Government for efforts at decongesting correctional facilities across the country in view of the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus.
Recall that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior announced earlier in the week that 2,600 inmates of correctional services across the country have been granted presidential pardon in a bid to arrest the spread of COVID-19.
The Muslim organisation also lauded the decision of the Buhari led administration to grant presidential pardon to late foremost nationalists Anthony Enahoro, Ambrose Alli, Lt Col. Moses Effiong (rtd), Major E.J Olarenwaju among other ex-convicts.
This was contained in a statement signed by its National President, Mallam Sani Suleiman; 1st Vice President/Coordinator South, Abdul Mojeed Momoh and 2nd Vice President/Coordinator North, Abdullah Butu in Lagos
“We believe that in Islam, it is better to let a person whose guilt cannot be proven walk free than incarcerate an innocent person. Over 70% of inmates in our overcrowded correctional services are not convicts but awaiting trial due to the slow judicial process in the country”, the statement read.
The Islamic body similarly urged the Federal Government on the need to reform the country’s correctional services, noting that more focus should be on crime prevention and not just imprisonment of convicts.
It also added that in line with global best practices, other forms of punitive measures such as community service, probation, suspended sentences and even amnesty should be incorporated into the Nigerian Correctional Service and judicial system.
The faith-based organisation also extolled the efforts of the President, Health Minister and other government functionaries who are at the forefront of the war against the Coronavirus pandemic, while appreciating the citizens for their support for the government so far.
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