Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has secured the release of 110 inmates from the Kaduna Correctional Centre to mark the celebration of the 2024 June 12 Democracy Day.
Governor Sani, alongside renowned rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, visited the Kaduna Custodial Centre and explained that the move was part of his government’s efforts to decongest the prisons and give deserving inmates a second chance.
He stated, “Out of the number, there are 22 convicts who will be released on pardon under the prerogative of mercy powers conferred on me by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
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He added that the remaining 88 convicts consist of those who have been convicted with the option of fines ranging from N10,000 and above, while others have compensation to pay to their victims, ranging from N150,000 and above.
He expressed concern over the high rate of inmates either awaiting trial or whose trials had begun.
The governor noted that it is more worrisome considering the capacity of the custodial centres in Kaduna State, stressing that the initial capacity was 500 but has now been upgraded to 1,100.
He stated that the custodial centres have been overstretched, saying that the state now has a total of 3,000 inmates.
He said that he came to the custodial centre with mixed feelings, adding that Nigerians are celebrating their Democracy Day, a day set aside to pay tribute to those who made sacrifices so that they can live in freedom and to see their brothers and sisters who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
The governor advised the released inmates to henceforth be of good character.
Falana, in his remarks, urged Governor Sani to mandate all chief magistrates in the state to visit police detention facilities at least once a month, saying such visits would prevent unnecessary arrests and congestion of the prison.
He hailed Sani for his gesture in granting pardon to 22 convicted inmates and securing the release of 88 awaiting-trial inmates. He also advised the released inmates to stay away from crimes capable of bringing them back to prison.
The Controller of Correctional Service in Kaduna, Isah Mohammed Nuru, had earlier explained that the custodial centre in Kaduna and its environs were facing challenges ranging from a high number of awaiting-trial inmates to inadequate operational vehicles to convey inmates to court.
