From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.
The Niger State Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ahmed Alhaji Bima has decongested Minna old prison by freeing inmates with less offences.
He decried congestion of prison with inmates with civil offences be set free and bailable offences be granted bail immediately.
He made the condemnation yesterday at the Minna old prison during his tour visit where he commended the cleaningness of the prison indicating the proper care of inmates rather than in carsurration.
Bima assured that all the inmates with bailable offences will be granted bail while he charged the magistrates to be liberal in their decisions ensuring that bail is a right and should be accorded to those who deserved it.
Acting Chief Judge emphasized the need to have proper and adequate FIR of every suspects and those already sentenced to authenticate the documentation of all the inmates lamented over some inmates who are languishing in prison without records of their offences.
While urging the magistrates to be fair and just in the dispensation of justice to offenders and suspects however set free a number of inmates in the prison as his prison decongestion policy of his administration.
The Deputy Controller of administration, DC Mohammed Aliyu in his remarks assured of maximum support and cooperation for the success of the Programme.
Aliyu stated that the prison has the capacity of 149 inmates and currently has 493 inmates in the custurdy with 397 awaiting male trial with additional 10 females while 84 were convicted, one lifer and one condemned.
Amongst those released were a nursing mother and her boy friend from Mashegu who were summarily sentenced to ten months in prison while they have spent over a year as they were found in position of pistols and cart rages.
Some of the inmates released was due to lack there evidences against the suspects while some had their trail reviewed just as jubilation by most of the freed inmates with appreciation to the officials assuring to be better people to the society after they have learnt their lessons.
