Two Non Governmental organizations, Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI-Nigeria) and Lawyers Alert has sought for the decriminalization of petty offences in Bauchi state.
A press release issued on Sunday to newsmen in Bauchi on behalf of the groups, Mbami Iliya Sabka, said the idea when actualised, will help decongest correctional facilities in the state.
“Lawyers Alart in Conjunction with PIDI-Nigeria wish to call on the Bauchi state government to decriminalize petty offences in order to reduce incidences of overcrowding in correctional centres and its disproportionate impact on marginalised population in the state”, part of the release read.
The groups noted that Petty offences are minor offences for which the punishment is ‘a warning, community service, a low-value fine or short term of imprisonment.
The press statement pointed out that in most cases that PIDI monitored between January to date during COVID-19, the cases in police stations and courts in several localities, were petty offences.
“The most frequent petty offences seen were the non-payment of debt (under charges of ‘fraudulent conversion’ or ‘obtaining by false pretences’), loitering, Prostitution, Homosexuality, minor traffic and Sanitation offences”, the statement added.
The groups while calling for the decriminalization of petty offences such as traffic offences, Sanitation, loitering and non-payment of debt offences, equally seek for the reform of sanctions for MSM and other minor offences.
They observed that the laws that relate to petty offences and the ways in which the laws are enforced have many human rights violations and economic abuse in nature.
The groups noted that in Nigeria, petty offence cases place a heavy burden on the police, courts and the correctional facilities.
They are of the opinion that the petty offences when decriminalised, will help save funds for the police and courts as well as reduce overcrowding in correctional centres.
The press release argued that the arrests and imprisonment for petty offenses disproportionately affects the poor and marginalised people and discriminate population.
PIDI-NIGERIA and Lawyers Alert observed that most people charged with petty offences were poor and unemployed who relied on loans to sustain their businesses and were unable to pay fines.
According to the groups, the criminalisation of debt is equal to criminalisation of poverty, adding that the arrest and imprisonment of petty offenders disrupt an individual’s life as well as create additional financial and emotional burden for their families.
