Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani in commemoration of Democracy Day has released 110 inmates from the Kaduna Correctional Centre.
Accompanied by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, Uba Sani visited the Kaduna Custodial Centre explaining that the decision was grounded on his administration’s effort to decongest the prisons and give inmates another shot at life.
He stated, “Out of the number, there are 22 convicts who will be released on pardon under the prerogative of mercy powers conferred on me by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Addressing the remaining 88 convicts, Sani said they were convicted with the option of fines ranging from N10,000 and above, while others have compensation to pay to their victims, ranging from N150,000 and above.
He was worried about the number of inmates either awaiting trial or those whose trial had just begun. He expressed concern over the capacity of the custodial centres in Kaduna state emphasising the increase of the capacity from 500 to 1,100.
He noted that the centres are overstretched as the state now has a total of 3,000 inmates.
The governor who showed compassion to the inmates said that Democracy Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to those who made sacrifices so that they can live in freedom and to see their brothers and sisters who found themselves on the wrong side of the law.
He admonished the released inmates to maintain good behaviour.