Nine inmates from the Suleja Correctional Centre have regained their freedom following the order of release by the Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that besides those who gained their freedom, some other inmates were granted bail.
The Chief Judge who took these decisions on her tour of Correctional Centres in the state said her visit would be more regular towards decongesting the Correctional Centres in the state and to make the atmosphere more conducive for the inmates.
Most Correctional Centres across the country including those in Niger state are overpopulated and built many years back The Suleja Correctional Centre was built in 2014 with a capacity of 250 inmates but currently accommodates 556 inmates with 368 awaiting trial.
The Chief Judge during the tour referred some cases for summary trial and bail of the accused persons involved.
Meanwhile, Justice Halima Abdulmalik has directed the Chief Registrar of the state Judiciary to query a Magistrate in Minna for sending adults to the juvenile facility instead of the Correctional Centre.
It was reliably gathered that the Magistrate had sent convicts who are 23 years and above to the Remand Home in Minna instead of the Correctional Centre.
She said, “The FIR of this accused person stated that he is 23 years old. This is evidence before you (magistrate) to decide his age and then send him to the correctional centre as the appropriate place. It is negligence on your part to have done otherwise and you are to be queried for it,” the Chief Judge declared.
She observed that three other adults have been kept at the Juvenile facility even when they were ordered to be sent to Correctional Centre.