FG advised on prison congestion

Yekini Jimoh, Ilorin - 25.03.2008

Federal Government has been advised to create a place where prison inmates awaiting trial would be kept as a way of decongesting prisons in the country.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Malam Yusuf Ali, made the appeal while featuring in a radio interview programme in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to him, people awaiting trial were presumed innocent until the court proved otherwise and, therefore, should not be kept in prison custody like convicts.

He further recommended the rebuilding of all prisons across the country, saying that they should also be furnished with modern facilities.

He described the probe of the $16 billion power sector scandal as a welcome development, noting that it would go a long way in checking corruptrion among public office holders in the country.

Ali called for severe punishment for any politician, electorate or security operative who contravenes the electoral laws.

He said the country might end up with a two-party system judging by the present political situation in the country.

“It is better for the nation to have two strong political parties with one in power while the other will form a formidable opposition to checkmate government in power,” he said.

The senior advocate described the judiciary as the protector of the country’s democracy as it had proved to be the most reliable arm of the government.