JUST IN: CJN Orders Chief Judges To Decongest Prison Due To COVID-19

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has ordered all Chief Judges (at the federal and state level) to take immediate measures to decongest prisons across the country as a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus disease.

In a circular released on Friday, Justice Muhammad, in his capacity as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), instructed the Chief Judges to ensure that criminal cases are dealt with promptly, while they are also expected to visit prisons within their jurisdictions.

The CJN, who regretted the large number of awaiting trial prisoners in prisons, said: “It has become imperative that your lordships embark on an urgent visit to all custodial/correctional centers within your respective states to locate and release deserving prisoners, where this has not already been done.”