By Ramatu Garba
The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has trained members of the Kano State Parole Board on strengthening their capacity for effective justice delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training held in Kano on Wednesday was conducted under the Advancing Implementation of Non-Custodial Solutions (AI-NCS) Project.
NAN also reports that the project is funded by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) II Programme in collaboration with International IDEA.
The Programme Manager for the Implementation of Non-Custodial Solutions Project at PRAWA, Mrs Katumi Oboirien, said the two-day training is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the state parole board members.
According to her, the training is also designed to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively execute their mandates.
Oboirien highlighted the importance of aligning parole administration with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Act 2019 through proper application of the parole protocols.
“The NCoS Act 2019 provides for the implementation of non-custodial measures, including parole.
“In line with this, parole boards were established in various states in 2022, including the Kano State Parole Board, to ensure the effective utilisation of these measures, ” Oboirien said
She said that parole involves the conditional release of an inmate, who has served one-third of his/her sentence in a custodial centre.
“Parole is one of the non custodial solutions; others include community services, restorative justice, and suspended sentencing.
“The NCoS Act 2019 provides the legal framework for an inmate’s release on parole, but there are conditions, ” she said.
The act, she said, also grants the NCoS Controller-General the powers to constitute a parole board.
She also said that the main task of the parole board was to work closely with parole officers in custodial centres to identify inmates eligible for parole.
“Parole is not a right but a privilege. The inmates must meet all the listed criteria, ensuring that they will not pose a threat to the community when released,” she added.
The Chairman of the Kano State Parole Board, Justice A.T. Badamasi, said the training had equipped board members and provide necessary structures for the implementation of the non-custodial solutions project.
“Since its inauguration sometimes in 2022, the board has faced logistical challenges that hindered its functionality, ” Badamasi said.
The Controller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Mr Ado Inuwa, said that the selection of the parole board members was based on track records of performance.
He urged them to apply their wealth of experience in carrying out their mandates effectively. (NAN)
