General News
NGO calls for laws to reduce number of persons awaiting trial
The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) an NGO, called for the effective implementation of Nigerian laws that addressed the issue of high number of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATPs) in Custodial Centres.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja in collaboration with the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Forum on Detention and Corrections.
The statement was signed by 19 CSOs by PRAWA spokesperson, Mrs Ogechi Agu.
It stated that several research reports and available statistics as at date indicate clearly that congestion was a major challenge bedeviling the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The NGO said over-crowding in some of the Custodial Centres across the Federation is caused by the high number of ATPs in custody and this should be dealt with as already indicated.
“Now, the focus should be on putting mechanisms in place for the implementation of the sections of the NCoS Act.
“This in which provides for the handling of condemned inmates and for management of congestion in custodial centers.
“Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure effective implementation of section 12(2)(c) of the NCoS Act which provides that “where an inmate sentenced to death has exhausted all legal procedures for appeal;
“And a period of 10 years has elapsed without the execution of the sentence, the chief judge may commute the death sentence to life imprisonment.
“Our general concern now should be to ensure that this provision is fully tested exhaustively up to the appellate court.
“Especially regarding the issue of computation of when the period of ten years indicated in the act will start counting for those applying for commute of their death sentences to life, ” it stated.
The statement further said that very important also was the implementation of section 12 (four to 12) of the Act which provides for the early warning signal for action to the relevant persons and institutions.
It stated “such as the Attorney General of the Federation and that of the States and the Chief Judge of the FCT and that of the State as the case maybe for action when a custodial center is exceeding its capacity to ensure that action is taken to decongest such centers.
“Specifically, sub-section (8) of same section 12 empowers the State controller and superintendent in charge of a custodial center to reject more intakes of inmates when a centre is filled to capacity.
“As a measure to address congestion, Nigeria should also be focusing on addressing inflow into custodial centers by adhering to use of pretrial detention.
“This is as a measure of last resort as advised in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures and by giving all the necessary support to the effective implementation of non-custodial measures.
“This is as provided for in parts 44 and 45 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Part 2 of the NCoS Act and other relevant laws in Nigeria, ” it stated.
The NGO called on stakeholders to work to ensure that legal and other necessary measures put in place to reduce high number of ATPs in custody were effectively implemented.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, said various custodial centres across the country, presently stand at 74,127, out of which 52,226 inmates are awaiting trial persons (ATPs).
Malami in his letter dated April 9, said he was drawing the attention of the governors to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval and authorisation for urgent measures to be taken towards the speedy decongestion of correctional/custodial centres.
The government had announced pardons aimed at decongesting correctional centres across the country amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The justice minister urged the governors to direct the chief judges in their states to identify and release deserving inmates.
Malami said he had in the letters titled “Urgent need for speedy decongestion of Custodial Centres”, noted that from available records, the inmate population at the
He added that most of these Custodial Centres are currently housing inmates beyond their capacities.
The AGF said the development posed a potent threat to the health of the inmates and the public in general in view of the present circumstances, hence the need for urgent steps to bring the situation under control.
NAN reports that as at March 2020, Nigeria has a total of 244 custodial centres, 139 of which are the core outlets and 85 as satellite centres. (NAN).
General News
Clergy Urged To Put Members’ Welfare Above All Else
At a solemn ordination service in Abuja, senior church leaders have called on pastors to make the well-being of their congregations a top priority, following the example of Jesus Christ.
Speaking during the priesthood ordination and installation of a Sub Dean at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Life Camp, Abuja, the retired Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Okene, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Ajulo, described pastors as shepherds charged with the care of their flock. He urged them to shun worldly distractions and focus on meeting the spiritual and material needs of their members.
Bishop Ajulo also encouraged the newly ordained priests to remain faithful to their calling by teaching God’s word without compromise.
In his charge, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, urged the new clergy to preach the undiluted gospel and foster religious harmony wherever they serve. He expressed confidence that their new roles would help promote peace and unity in society.
The service also featured prayers for national leaders and divine intervention in addressing the current global economic challenges.
General News
1,000 Prayer Warriors Storm Ilorin for Tinubu, Nation’s Deliverance
In a dramatic show of faith and patriotism, over 1,000 fiery prayer warriors from across Nigeria will descend on Ilorin, Kwara State, this Saturday, lifting their voices in intense intercession for President Bola Tinubu’s success and Nigeria’s survival in the face of biting economic woes and mounting insecurity.
The spiritual siege, themed “Walking in Domini”, is the maiden convention of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), with its Kwara State Chairman, Evangelist Thomas Adeboye, vowing that “heaven will hear and respond to Nigeria’s cry.”
Aside from marathon prayers, the gathering will roll out free medical outreach to locals across Kwara’s LGAs, a gesture aimed at touching both body and soul.
Adeboye, lamenting Nigeria’s “troubling economic and security realities”, called for a nationwide prayer uprising, insisting that Tinubu has shown the will to revive the nation but needs massive divine backing to succeed.
“Banditry, a collapsing economy, and political tension demand we seek God’s face like never before,” he declared. “We will storm heaven for wisdom for the President and governors to steer Nigeria to safety.”
The convention will also feature awards to distinguished personalities, soul-lifting worship, fiery sermons, and unity-driven lectures—all capped with thunderous prayers for Nigeria’s redemption.
Adeboye urged the President to ensure every policy has “a human face,” stressing that Nigerians must not only endure but also enjoy the fruits of governance.
With the OAIC promising to reaffirm believers’ authority in Christ and rally spiritual boldness in the face of national challenges, Ilorin is set to become the epicentre of a powerful spiritual warfare for Nigeria’s destiny.
General News
Nigerian Anglicans Condemn Lesbian Archbishop of Wales, Deepening Global Anglican Rift
…Church leaders accuse Welsh counterparts of “spiritual decadence” and “abandonment of faith”
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued a forceful condemnation of the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the Archbishop of Wales. The move is the latest in a series of developments that have deepened divisions within the global Anglican Communion over sexuality and doctrine.
In a statement from Primate The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, the church denounced the election as a “serious departure from biblical teaching” and a sign of “spiritual decadence” and “an outright abandonment of the faith once delivered to the saints.”
Archbishop Ndukuba warned that Bishop Vann’s elevation compromises the Anglican Church’s global mission and could obstruct evangelism. He compared the situation to the controversial tenure of Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, former Presiding Bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church, who also faced intense criticism from conservative Anglicans for her progressive views.
The Primate accused Bishop Vann of being complicit in the “ongoing crisis” around same-sex issues, stating that the election is a “clear revelation that many who claim to be members of the body of Christ cannot endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).
The Church of Nigeria called on Anglicans worldwide to reject “rebels” and “apostates” and to instead support conservative bodies like the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) condemns, unequivocally rejects, and will not recognize the election of Rt. Rev. Cherry Vann as Archbishop of Wales,” Ndukuba declared. He concluded with a solemn warning that without repentance, the Church in Wales risks losing “complete relevance” and its leaders will face judgment.
