Kaduna, June 12, 2024 – Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has released 110 inmates from Kaduna Correctional Centre as part of activities marking the Democracy Day.
The governor visited the Correctional Centre along with Femi Falana, a renowned human rights activist to decongest the prisons on Wednesday.
Sani said out of the 110 released inmates, there were 22 convicts who were pardoned under the prerogative of mercy powers under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).
He said the remaining 88 convicts consisted of those who had been convicted with the option of fines ranging from N10,000 and above, while others had compensation to pay to their victims ranging from N150,000 and above.
Sani expressed concern over the high number of the inmates either awaiting trial or whose trials had begun.
The governor said that the situation was more worrisome considering the capacity of the custodial centres in Kaduna State, stressing that the initial capacity was 500, but had now been upgraded to 1,100.
He said facilities at custodial centres had been overstretched, saying that the state now has a total of 3,000 inmates.
Sani said that he came to the custodial centre with mixed feelings, adding that Nigerians were 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 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 commended the governor for his gesture in pardoning 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.
