Ramadan: Kano govt pays N12m for 317 prisoners’ release

KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as part of activities to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, on Saturday, secured the release of 317 prisoners.

More than N12 million was spent as compensation and fines to ensure the freedom of the inmates.

According to him, the 317 inmates comprised young offenders, the elderly, the sick, and those above the age of 65.

Speaking on the development, the  Controller of Prisons, Kano, Magaji A. Abdullahi, commended the goverment for the gesture, which he said would assist in decongesting  prisons in Kano.

Also read: Independence: Akeredolu pardons 30 prisoners

In another development, the immediate past governor of Sokoto State, and current chairman of the Northern Senators forum, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, has secured the freedom of 64 inmates.

A sum of N6 million was released for payment of their various fines.

In a statement by his media aide in Sokoto, he said the gesture was extended to the inmates under the Aliyu Magartakarda Wamakko Free Legal Services Foundation, as part of activities for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The beneficiaries included a female inmate.

The released prisoners  were each given N10,000 as transport fare to their various homes.

Wamakko admonished the beneficiaries to “be of good behaviour and see their incarceration as an act ordained by Allah.”

He explained that the gesture was aimed at fast-tracking measures to further decongest prisons, as well as to facilitate the smooth administration of justice.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Lema Sambo Wali, represented by its secretary, Kabiru Mohammed, lauded Senator Wamakko for the gesture and urged other well-meaning  individuals to emulate him.

In his response, representatives of the freed inmates, Abubakar Zaidi from Sokoto, and  Rahman Osayemi from Ibadan, commended Wamakko for the gesture and promised to steer clear of all acts capable of bringing them back to prison.