The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has granted state freedom to 36 inmates convicted for various offences and serving different jail terms.
Governor Sule told them to be good ambassadors.
Constitutional obligation
During his visit to Lafia Correctional Centre, the Governor said the gesture was in fulfilment of his constitutional obligation.
He advised the inmates to repent and desist from any crime that would make them return to Correctional Centre.
Governor Sule said; ”the inmates were released not because they are innocent, but the government believed that they most have learnt their lessons for the time they stayed in jail.”
“Each of you must become a preacher from here, so that you would be assimilated fully into the society, to contribute the peace, security and development of the society,” he stated.
The Governor also lauded the management of Correctional Facilities for their numerous programmes aimed at rehabilitating the inmates to make them better persons.
Education
He commended the management for enrolling some of the inmates interested in pursuing their career in education to obtain degrees among others.
The Governor also promises to provide skill acquisition equipment for the inmates.
Responding to the request, the Nasarawa State Comptroller of Nigeria Correctional Service, Mr Aliyu Yahuza, said that the Governor promised to provide sewing machines, welding machines among others to equip the Entrepreneurship centres.
Mr Yakuza further expressed gratitude to the Governor for the gesture and other supports being rendered for better facilities and welfare of inmates in the state.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Abdulkarim Kana, said this is the fourth time the Governor was extending the gesture to inmates in the last two years.
The Commissioner further said that ”in order to ensure speedy administration of justice, the Ministry of Justice is currently prosecuting over 1, 000 cases at various courts across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.”
Amendment Criminal of Justice Law
The Justice Commissioner also said the ministry has commenced the implementation of the amendment Criminal of Justice Law based on the approval by the Governor to ensure speedy administration of justice.
Kana said; ”the ministry and inmates who have spend long time awaiting trials as well as their counsels would agree on alternative charges to get conviction for them.
”It is better for them to be convicted instead of being detained on awaiting trials basis for many years.”
The Commissioner therefore added that the Amnesty programme and the plea bargain initiative would help decongest the Correctional Centres and ensure that cause of justice was not delayed.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
