The Wife of the Bauchi State governor, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, has secured the release of 41 inmates of Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, centers in Nasarawa State.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the inmates were released in conjunction with the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja branch across six facilities in the state command.
Performing a brief ceremony to mark the release on Tuesday at the Lafia correctional centre, the Nasarawa Chief Judge, Justice Umaru Dikko, advised the freed inmates to be an agent of positive change to society.
The Bauchi First Lady, who was represented by Emmanuel Okeke, programme officer of Al-Muhhibah Foundation, urged the freed inmates to be law-abiding citizens in order not to find themselves back in the correctional centre.
“As you can see, you are released from among your colleagues, so you should endeavor to live a successful life without committing any crime,” she said.
According to Mrs Mohammed, her foundation has over the years found ways of assisting the needy and the less privileged in society.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of FIDA, Racheal Andrew, said releasing the inmates is part of their individual mandates of rendering free legal services.
According to her, FIDA, in collaboration with Al-Muhibbah foundation, intended to decongest the facility and give some inmates a sense of belonging, to start a new life and to become relevant in society.
“FIDA, in collaboration with Al-Muhibbah Foundation as earlier stated, seeks to decongest custodial centers across Nasarawa State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service by the payment of fine for a total of forty–one (41) inmates,” she said.
Earlier, Emmanuel Okoro, the Controller of NCS, Nasarwa State Command, advised the freed inmates to be law-abiding and shun any act capable of bringing them back to the correctional facilities.
