Niger CJ Frees One Prisoner, Grants Bail To Four

The Chief Judge of Niger State, Halima Abdulmalik last Tuesday, granted bail to four and released one at Suleja Medium Custodial l Centre while she declined the requests for pardon by some inmates convicted for violent crimes at the Suleja Medium Custodial Centre.l
The release followed a review of a total of 61 cases bordering on murder, kidnap, and armed robbery among others during her visit to the centre , Tuesday in the exercise of her statutory duty of prerogative of mercy.
The chief judge, was accompanied by senior magistrates and other principal officials of the State’s Ministry of Justice,.
Declining the plea for pardon by some of the inmates , she explained during the visit , that such pardon cannot be granted to in mates with cases of heavy charges of violent crime , murder , robbery and related offences reviewed a total of 61 cases However four inmates at the detention facility were granted bail while one regained his freedom,.
A statement from the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, said one of the released inmate, Abubakar Umar, expressed gratitude to the authorities for his freedom.However the details of the freed immate and those granted bail was not disclosed
The event was conducted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Controller of Corrections, Francis John, who represented the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa.
The statement quoted the CJ as saying that custodial centre visits are statutory to ensure that justice is served.
Mrs Abdulmalik pledged to ensure that judges embrace the non-custodial service measures in the state as well as ensuring speedy access to justice.
She advised the released inmates to stay off crime and be good citizens .
The CJ also lauded the Nigerian Correctional Service for their support in providing security and ensuring adequate coordination of the inmates in the custodial centres during the exercise.
Mr John commended Mrs Abdulmalik for her timely intervention in reviewing inmates’ status at the facility.
He urged magistrates and judges in the state to adopt non-custodial sentencing.
He said such a measure would reduce the number of inmates going into the custodial centres, many of whom are being tried or convicted for minor offences.
Mr John also admonished the released inmates to be of good behaviour, adding that they ensure they getb engaged in meaningful and lawful trades to avoid falling into crimes again .
In a related event , the Prisons Chaplaincy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja , same day celebrated Easter with the in mates of the Suleja Prisons.

The event which has evolved as an annual event of the Church at Easter , was coordinated by the Chaplain, Fr Victor Nyoro and we’ll wishers of Prisons Directorate of the Archdiocese.
Highlights of the event were feeding of the inmates and evangelization .
Fr. Nyoro expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the welfare of the prisoners and showed them love even as they prayed for mercy of God upon them and total reconciliation with God .
Visitation and care of Prisoners is one of the corporal Works of Mercy of the Church .