Gombe Chief Judge Frees 79 Inmates, Reviews Cases of 608 Awaiting Trial
The Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Halima S. Mohammed, has ordered the release of 79 inmates following a three-day jail delivery exercise across six correctional facilities in the state.
The exercise, which commenced on August 3 and ended on August 5, 2026, involved the review of cases involving 608 awaiting trial persons at the Medium Security Custodial Centres (MSCCs) in Gombe, Billiri, Tula, Cham, Bajoga and Nafada.
The exercise was conducted pursuant to Section 1 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Gombe State, which empowers the Chief Judge to inspect correctional facilities and review the cases of awaiting trial inmates.
At the end of the exercise, 41 inmates were granted conditional bail, while 38 others were released unconditionally.
According to the Gombe State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the decisions were based on considerations including the health conditions and advanced age of some inmates, as well as prolonged detention without trial.
Speaking during the exercise, Justice Mohammed said the initiative was part of the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights and addressing congestion in correctional facilities.
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She stressed the need for speedy dispensation of justice, noting that no person should remain in detention beyond what is permitted by law.
The Chief Judge also urged the released inmates to regard their freedom as an opportunity to turn a new leaf, remain law-abiding and stay away from criminal activities.
The Controller of Corrections, Gombe State Command, Agada Felix Audu, commended the state government and the Chief Judge for the initiative, describing it as an important intervention towards decongesting custodial facilities and supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
Audu urged the released inmates to become responsible members of society and charged serving inmates to maintain good conduct.
He also called on correctional officers to remain professional, disciplined and dedicated to their duties while treating inmates with respect and human dignity.
Justice Mohammed expressed appreciation to the Controller of Corrections and other stakeholders involved in the exercise for their cooperation and support.
She also commended facility managers for maintaining clean and orderly custodial centres.
The exercise was attended by High Court judges, the Director of Public Prosecutions, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Services, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, magistrates, state counsel, prosecutors and other criminal justice stakeholders.
By PRNigeria
