Decongestion: LACON collaborates with foundation, secures release of seven inmates

The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON) in partnership with the Harrison Goday Foundation recently secured the release of seven convicted inmates who were sentenced to various fines from the medium-security custodian center, Nasarawa state command and medium security custodian centre Suleja in Niger state.

A statement by the Assistant Director, Press of LACON, Amaka Agbaih said the release of the convicts was secured after the payment of the sum of N1, 50,000.00 on their behalf by Harrison Goday foundation.

The gesture, she said was aimed at addressing the problem of congestion by providing relief to indigent persons, convicted and sentenced to fines but were unable to pay the fines imposed on them or compensation awarded against them.

According to her, three of the released convicts had served their sentences but were unable to pay compensation to the victims as ordered by the court.

In his remarks, Mr. Oliver Chukwuma, head of the decongestion unit of LACON said, the custodian centres are still plagued with the persistent challenge of overcrowding, under staffing leading to lack of adequate manpower/personnel to man the facilities.

Chukwuma said, there is a need for increased food supply and construction of sewage system at correctional centers across the country.

The chairman of Harrison Goday Foundation, Mr.Ogochukwu Nga while addressing the released inmates, urged them to avoid actions, behaviours, and associations that could lead them back into the correctional center.

He emphasized the need for rehabilitation and to reunite the convicts into the society as law-abiding citizens while hoping to see them doing well in future.

In appreciation, the released inmates thanked the legal aid council for their effort in seeing that they were released and equally praised the chairman, Harrison foundation for his generosity and pledged to be good citizens henceforth.

The statement said, the Legal aid council is the official voice of the voiceless, while the Harrison Goday foundation is a non-governmental organisation with the vision of providing humanitarian services across specific sectors.