Lagos govt seeks community service to decongest prisons

The Lagos State Prison Watch has urged courts in the state to assist in the decongestion of prisons by giving precedence to non-custodial sentences.
The team, which comprises state counsel from Citizens Right, Office of the Public Defender and Community Service, said it had begun advocacy for offenders to serve the community instead of going to jail for minor offences.
The Director of Citizens Right, Mrs. Clara Ibirogba, spoke on Sunday during the team’s visit to the Badagry Prison.
Ibirogba, who expressed displeasure at the congestion of the prison, said counsel from the Office of the Public Defender would appeal to the courts to hand down more of non-custodial sentences.
She said, “Counsel from the OPD shall urge the courts to hand down more of non-custodial sentences as opposed to imprisonments for minor offences. This will aid in decongesting the prison.”
A representative of the Deputy Controller of Prison, Mr. Emmanuel Olaitan, commended the state government for its constant support to the welfare of prisoners.
He also appealed to the government to assist in the provision of food, clothing and other welfare materials for the prisoners.