Respites came the way of eight inmates who had been languishing in the custodial center without trial when the Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik ordered for their freedom.
They were ordered to be release during the Chief Judge special court session to decongest the Custodial center as part of her Constitutional mandate to the old Minna Medium Security Custodial center.
The eight Inmates, according to Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik are ordered to be released for lack of diligence Prosecution by the legal unit of the Niger State Police Command.
The inmates have been languishing in the Custodial Center for the past six to eight years without their case files been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
The head of the Legal Aid Council (LAC) in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation Barrister Bolanle Jibogun drew the attention of the Chief Judge to an inmate who had been in the Custodial center since 2019 without been taken to court.
” Your Lordship, this inmate has been in this place since 2019 without trial.. Your predecessors have directed the head of the prosecutor to Forward his case file to the ministry of Justice for advice they refused.
” My Lord, I hereby apply that you should discharge him without further delay. That is our humble application. I sincerely thank you My Lord.” she requested.
The chief judge then graciously discharge accordingly.
Also the chief judge granted bail to five others who have been on awaiting trial at the Custodial center without bail.
Equally five other inmates serving various jail terms in the correctional center were granted pardon by the Chief Judge for being remorseful while
serving their jail terms.
Among them included a female inmate who was convicted for Seven years she was granted pardon by the Chief Judge.
The Comptroller of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Niger state Hamisu Isah Mohammed who recommended for their release told the chief Judge that he is recommending them to the chief Judge for their release ” beçause of their good conduct while serving their jail terms”
” My Lord. These inmates have been of good conduct while serving their jail terms. They have been remorseful and they regretted their actions.
” All of them here are working in my house and I came to discover that they have shown a sign of remorse while working in my house.
“My Lord, I’m recommending them for you to extend your kind hearted benevolence to grant them pardon. They are of good conduct and hard working while serving their jail terms”
the state Comptroller of Correctional Service told the chief Judge.
While granting the request, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik warned them to restrain themselves from any act that will bring them back to the center.
She told them to go back to their respective home and be of good conduct stressing that they should see their incarceration as an act of God that will bring them closer to their creator.
