Africa Business News

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has asked the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to review his plan for the payment of N500 million in fines imposed on not less than 4,000 convicts by various courts. The minister had announced a plan to decongest the correctional centres in the country by ensuring the payment of the fines imposed on not less than 4,000 convicts by various courts in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Tunji-Ojo says the total fines of N500 million would be paid within the next four weeks. The senior lawyer however says the minister should rather request President Bola Tinubu and the various state governors to exercise their prerogative of mercy by granting pardon to the 4,000 convicts to facilitate their immediate release from custody.