Kano: 31 Prisoners Freed From Correctional Centre To Prevent Congestion
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Kano has released thirty-one prisoners.
During a visit to Kano on Sunday, the presidential committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion facilitated the release of the convicts, according to the spokesman for the minister of justice, Umar Gwandu.
“The committee was in Kano for an on-the-spot assessment of the conditions of correctional centres and inmates with a view to making payment of fines for inmates who were convicted of minor offences but were unable to pay the fines, as well as a general review of peculiar cases.
“During the visit, 19 inmates were released through payment of fines by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Three were released through payment of fines by the Buni Yadi Foundation and two were released as well through payment made by Policy Vault Africa.
“Similarly, an additional seven inmates were released due to old age,” he said.
He also noted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) brought to the attention of the chairman of the committee, Ishaq Bello, the special case of Rahama Husseini.
“In 2015, Rahama, said to be 14 years at the time, was alleged to have been forcefully married off by her father and three days after, whilst her husband attempted to consummate the marriage, a struggle ensued which led to his unfortunate death.
“While granting state pardon to Rahama, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State promised that the state government will support her rehabilitation process.
”She was said to have been in custody for almost seven years,” he revealed.
Representatives from the UNODC and the Buni Yadi Foundation were also present, he claimed, to contribute their voices and support to Ms Rahama’s release.
The Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion was established and inaugurated on October 30, 2017 by Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN).
More than 10,000 inmates have been released as a result of the committee’s efforts.
In recent years, the committee has placed a greater emphasis on reforming the juvenile justice system.
