The Niger State Chief Judge in North Central Nigeria, Justice Halima Abdulmalik has granted freedom to 12 Inmates on awaiting trial list at the old Minna Custodial Centre.
The inmate who have been incarceration in the custodial Centre for the past 5 years without been taken to court by the police legal unit, were granted pardon during the maiden visit to the centre by the Chief judge.
Justice Abdulmalik had reviewed some cases of those that have been in the custodial Centre for capital offences of armed robbery, culpable homicide, among other offences during her ongoing visits to Correctional Centres in the State.
The suspects according to reports have been in the Correctional centre for over 5 years without their case files taken to the office of the Director of public prosecution (DPP), in the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
The Chief Judge ordered for their summary trial by the Chief Magistrate on her entourage to the Custodial Centre and “to have their conviction backdated to the years they have been remanded in the custodial Centre. She further directed the released of 2 inmates on awaiting trial for over 5 years.”
Justice Abdulmalik however, warned the released inmates “not to get themselves into any criminal activities that would bring them back to the Custodial Centre.”
She encouraged them to engage positively in the society and be useful in life.
Also speaking, the State Controller of Nigerian Custodial Service in Niger State, NCS, Alhaji Salman Abdulkadir told the released inmates “to use their experience while in the custody to get themselves closer to their God and stay away from criminal activities.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
