By Mohammad Ibrahim
Kaduna (NIGERIA) — About 56 inmates were Wednesday granted amnesty from Kaduna Convict Prison by the State Chief Judge, Justice Tanimu Zailani.
The freed inmates were among the 576 awaiting trial for various offences at the 100 year old prison.
Addressing other Judges shortly after the exercise, the Chief Judge tasked them and security agents to always fear God in discharging their duties.
He warned them against sending innocent people to jail for selfish reasons.
Speaking to Journalists, Kaduna State Prison Comptroller Abubakar Garba commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Chief Judge for decongesting the over-populated prison.
According to him, Kaduna Prison has capacity to accommodate only 547 inmates, but currently houses 1,200 inmates.
He lamented on the congested nature, emphasising on the need to free those who overstayed and those that committed minor offences.
One of the freed inmates, a Nigerien, Abdulrahman Zubairu said he regained his freedom after a year and half in the prison awaiting trial for armed robbery case.
He thanked the State government and Ministry of justice for setting him free even though he denied committing the offence he was accused of.
Of recent, there had been calls by various stakeholders on the need to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian prisons.
