COVID-19: Niger State Releases 118 Prison Inmates
In addition to the 46 inmates granted pardon by the Executive Governor of Niger State His Excellency Alh Abubakar Sani Bello recently, another set of 118 convicts and awaiting trial persons have regained their freedom across the State command.
The chief judge of Niger State, His lordship justice Aliyu Mohammed Mayaki who is also the chairman of the state committee on Criminal Justice Administration, has reviewed several cases of awaiting trial inmates and released most of those incarcerated without trial in the custodial centres of the power state.
Justice Mayaki who commenced the jail delivery exercise on Monday 4th May, 2020 had visited all the (8) custodial formations under the state where he freed inmates in the following correctional facilities;
1. Minna old custodial centre – 44 ATP’s were freed and 3 others were sentenced to various jail terms in a summary trial proceedings.
2. Minna New medium security custodial centre Tunga- 10 Awaiting trial persons were released, 9 cases reviewed summarily tried and convicted others to various jail terms beginning from the date of their arrest totaling 33 inmates in all.
3. Kontagora medium security custodial centre-11 ATM’S were discharged.
4. Kagara custodial centre-5 ATP’S were released.
5. Lapai custodial centre- 3 Awaiting trial persons and 2 convicts were freed.
6. Agaie medium security custodial centre- 2 convicts were discharged.
7. Bida medium security custodial centre- 7 convicts and 3 ATM’S were released and
8. New Bussa medium security custodial centre- 4. Awaiting trial persons were let go, 2 convicts were discharged based on good behavior and 2 other convicts were set free on health ground.
These bring the total number of inmates released by the CJ in the entire custodial centres of the state to (118) One Hundred and Eighteen. It will be recall that the presidency, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had asked state chief judges to Carry out decongestion exercise in all custodial centres of the country as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the novel covid 19 pandemic in our custodial facilities.
The chief judge during the exercise admonished the released inmates to be of good conduct and avoid any anti social behaviors capable of bringing them back to jail.
In his remarks, the controller of corrections Nigerian correctional service Niger State command Labbo Ibrahim Maradun thanked the chief judge, Director of Public Prosecution and all stake holders who contributed to the success of the exercise adding that it has tremendously helped in decongesting the custodial centres at a time the nation is faced with public health challenge of covid 19 pandemic. CC Maradun equally enjoined the freed inmates to shun act that will bring them back to custody.
In another related development, the 46 inmates granted pardon by the Governor of Niger State recently were officially released in a flagoff ceremony attended by His Excellency Alh Abubakar Sani Bello who was ably represented by the Hon commissioner of justice and Attorney General of the state Barrister Nasara Danmallam along side other members of the advisory council on prerogative of mercy in the State yesterday 12th May,2020.
The Governor appeal to the inmates to go and sin no more as they rejoin their communities by being law abiding citizens of the state and the nation in general.
At the end, each of the 46 inmates was given a stipend as a transport fare to their respective homes.
Rabiu Mohd Shuaibu CPRO Niger State command. rabiushuaibumohammed@gmail.com
