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By Martins Abochol
Jalingo, Dec. 16, 2025 (NAN)
In a significant move towards modernizing its criminal justice system, the Taraba State Judiciary, under Chief Judge Justice Joel Agya, has announced its formal adoption of non-custodial sentences for certain categories of offenders. This policy shift aims directly at tackling the chronic issue of prison overcrowding while promoting more rehabilitative forms of justice.
Justice Agya made the declaration on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by Mr. John Francis, the new Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Taraba Command, in Jalingo. [[PEAI_MEDIA_X]]
Beyond Punishment: The Rationale for Alternative Sentencing
The Chief Judge stated that convicts deemed suitable would be sentenced to provide community service within their local jurisdictions instead of facing incarceration. “This measure is to enhance prison decongestion,” Agya explained, expressing concern that “some inmates, who had no business staying long in the custodian centres were held there.”
This approach is not an ad-hoc measure but is grounded in the state’s Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), which already provides a legal framework for alternative sentencing. Non-custodial options can include community service, fines, probation, restitution to victims, and mandatory counselling or training programs. These methods focus on repairing harm, rehabilitating the offender, and reintegrating them as productive members of society, rather than solely on punitive isolation.
The Scale of the Challenge: A System Under Strain
Controller John Francis provided stark data underscoring the urgency of this reform. During his assessment of the state’s 13 custodial centres, he found 422 inmates. Of these, a staggering 311 (over 73%) were awaiting trial, 111 were convicted, and 22 were on death row. “The number of awaiting trial inmates is alarming,” Francis stated, noting it “posed a serious risk to the administration of custodial administration.” This over-reliance on pre-trial detention clogs the system, wastes resources, and often punishes individuals who may later be found innocent.
Justice Agya also highlighted systemic bottlenecks beyond the judiciary’s direct control, particularly the “cumbersome process” of police investigations and case prosecution by the Ministry of Justice, which contributes to delays. “The power of prosecution does not lie in the hands of courts,” he noted, emphasizing the need for inter-agency collaboration.
A Multi-Pronged Strategy for Decongestion
The meeting outlined a collaborative action plan:
1. Non-Custodial Sentences: Judges will increasingly apply community service orders for low-risk, non-violent offenders (e.g., minor theft, traffic violations, petty offences).
2. Jail Delivery Exercises: The Chief Judge, who conducted one in 2024, is preparing another to review cases of inmates, especially those awaiting trial for prolonged periods without cause.
3. Institutional Collaboration: Agya pledged to work with the State Attorney General to streamline processes. Francis proposed establishing a dedicated Prison Decongestion Committee to institutionalize these efforts.
4. Monitoring Compliance: The NCS plans to deploy officers to courts to monitor and ensure that individuals sentenced to community service fulfill their obligations, addressing a key concern about the enforcement of non-custodial orders. [[PEAI_MEDIA_X]]
A Shared Vision for Justice
In his remarks, Justice Agya framed the NCS as a “critical stakeholder” not just in confinement, but in “the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.” He assured Controller Francis of the judiciary’s commitment to “sustaining and strengthening this collaboration in the overall interest of justice, public safety, and the rule of law.”
Francis, in turn, appealed for speedy trials and the judiciary’s support to succeed in his tenure, stating, “Your visit is both timely and significant.”
This policy shift in Taraba represents a growing recognition within Nigeria’s justice sector that for many offenders, particularly those charged with minor crimes, alternatives to imprisonment can be a more effective, humane, and sustainable path forward.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
MK/YGA
Edited by Gabriel Yough
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