From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Using his powers of prerogative of mercy, inline with the decongestion policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given pardon and freedom to 3,717 inmates in various correctional centres in Kano within the last six years.
Ganduje made the disclosure when he received, in a courtesy call, members of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion, at his office, on Thursday, under the Chairmanship of Justice Ishaq Bello.
According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari thought it right when he called for the decongestion of our Correctional Centres. Looking at the happenings in those Centres. That, we should respect life and we should have hope in our inmates.
“We adopted two major strategies to answer the call of President Muhammadu Buhari, for decongesting Correctional Centres.
“We put in place Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, under which we release inmates two times in a year. All during Sallah festivities. Sallah-El-Fitr and Sallah-El-Kabir. So far we released 3,717 inmates from 2015 to date.
“We paid for them, fees they were not able to pay that landed them in those Centres. We also give them transport money after they regained freedom. We recruit some of them in the state civil service.
“We are also keen about administration of justice. Many at times is not all about releasing those inmates, but we still have a greater percentage of those in these Centres as awaiting trials individuals.”
Justice Bello, who led the Committee, commended Governor Ganduje, stating that the gesture, “is a demonstration of interest and passion when it comes to issues of justice.”
According to him, “we have gotten into files and received cases today, when over 28 people regained freedom.
“Furthermore it is crucial to mention that with the support of the Kano state government, the Committee was able to secure the release of about 368 inmates from various correctional centres in Kano state at the of the first visit.”
