No fewer than 13 inmates serving various jail terms in Goron Dutse and Kurmawa Correction facilities in Kano state have been freed.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that Justice Aboki freed the inmates as part of the effort to decongest the facilities.
The Ministry of Judiciary Public Relations Officer, Baba Jibo said the Chief Judge embarked on the exercise based on powers conferred upon her under Sections 1 and 2 of the Criminal Justice Release From Custody Special Provisions Act 1977.
He however said inmates considered were those whose trial has taken a longer period, those sick and the old or elderly who after release can’t go back to commit any form of crime.
According to him, “In her bid to ensure decongestion of the correctional facilities, the Chief Judge of Kano State Hon Justice Dije Aboki had carried out a 2 days visit to Goron Dutse and Kurmawa Correctional Centres as well as Children remand homes and released 13 inmates in the custody.
“The visit by the Chief Judge is before the power conferred upon her under Sections 1 and 2 of the Criminal Justice Release From Custody Special Provisions Act 1977 which empowered her to conduct a prison visit.
“She considered the inmates whose trial has taken a longer time, those who are sick and the old or elderly who can’t go back to commit any form of crime.
“So during the exercise, 13 inmates with various offences were freed.
“During the visit, there are those she granted bail, there are also those whom she directed the court of the magistrate to accelerate hearing on their case among others,” Jibo stated.
Meanwhile, 18 inmates of Ogun State command of the Nigerian Correctional Centre have matriculated through the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
The ceremony, which took place at Old Abeokuta Correctional Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, was witnessed by officials of Abeokuta Study Centre of NOUN and officials of the Correctional Centre.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Controller General of Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, charged the matriculated inmates to take the opportunity of the academic programme to equip themselves in their area of choice.
Nababa, who was represented by ACC Oriyemi Taiwo, said the programme is free, urging the matriculants to focus on their educational pursuit so that they will be better people in future.
He advised them to enlightened other inmates to embrace one form of training; either education or vocational, so that they would be better formed before leaving the centre and as well be useful to themselves and society at large.
Nababa re-emphasised that correctional service encourages inmates to upgrade themselves in various aspects of skill acquisition that will benefit their lives and society at large.
Also speaking, the Welfare Officer of Abeokuta Correctional Centre, AbdulAkeem Awesu said, Correctional Centres in Ogun State have 119 inmates studying different courses at Abeouta Study Centre of NOUN.
He added that 162 others had graduated from College of Education.
“In 2018, 44 inmates sat for NECO Examination and all the them came out with flying colours. Since then, inmates have been sitting for NECO Examination at this centre. This year, our target is that 120 inmates sit for the examination.
“Also, the command has a synergy with NABTEB. Some of the inmates are also undergoing different vocational training and empowerment