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