The Niger State governor, Umar Bago, has secured the release of 80 inmates serving different jail terms in the various correctional facilities in the state after paying N20 million in fines.
Speaking at the medium correctional custodial centre in Minna on Monday, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, said the release of the inmates was in the interest of fairness.
He said the convicts are first-time criminals and minors.
Mr Garba advised the pardoned inmates to integrate into society and desist from acts capable of returning them to the correctional centres.
“We secured their release in the interest of fairness since this is their first crime and the crimes are minor. The inmates are young in age and needed help,” he said.
Also speaking, the controller of Niger State command of NCS, Salman Abdulkadir, who confirmed the payment of the amount, said the release of the inmates would help decongest the prisons.
In her remarks, the permanent secretary of the political affairs department, Aishatu Usman, said the state government had approved the payment for the release of the 80 inmates from eight correctional centres in the state.
She said their release was in line with the power of the prerogative of mercy contained in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the released inmates, Danjuma Dankambari, one of the discharged inmates, appreciated the governor for securing their freedom and promised to be law-abiding and better citizens.
