On Tuesday, Halima Abdulmalik, the Chief Judge of Niger State, released one prisoner and gave four others bail from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja.
This information was provided in a press release signed by Adamu Duza, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Capital Territory Command.
The statement claims that Justice Abdulmalik examined a total of 60 cases, including murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. She was accompanied in this examination by senior magistrates and other key officials of the Ministry of Justice. One prisoner was released and four others were granted bail.
In her remarks, the Chief Judge stated that visits to detention centres were mandated by law to guarantee that justice is done.
Abdulmalik added that she will make sure courts and judges support the state's non-custodial service initiatives and guarantee prompt access to justice.
In addition, the Chief Judge cautioned the freed prisoner not to commit crimes and expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Correctional Service authorities for their assistance in maintaining security and ensuring that the prisoners in the detention facility were adequately coordinated throughout the process.
Francis John, the FCT Controller of Corrections, thanked the Chief Justice and her staff for their prompt intervention and urged them to encourage state magistrates and justices to use non-custodial service sentencing as a means of reducing the number of prisoners entering the custodial facility.
John advised the newly freed inmate to maintain good behaviour and make sure they were profitably involved in a wise trade to stay away from crime.
Abubakar Umar, the prisoner who was freed, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge for finding him deserving of a pardon.
