No fewer than 13 inmates have regained freedom at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, following a jail delivery exercise carried out by the Niger State Judiciary.
Presiding over the jail delivery exercise yesterday, the State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik and her judicial team meticulously reviewed 55 cases of awaiting trial inmates and others eligible for consideration.
The three inmates were discharged and acquitted, one was released on bail, while nine regained freedom based on exemplary behaviour and conduct, with directives to pay compensations.
Justice Abdulmalik commended the correctional service for its partnership in promoting justice.
“This jail delivery exercise is a testament to our shared resolve to ensure that no one languishes in custody unjustly.
“We are not just decongesting facilities. We are restoring lives, upholding the rule of law and paving the way for reformed citizens to contribute meaningfully to the society.
“I urge all stakeholders to sustain this momentum for faster justice delivery,”he added.
In his welcome address, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Christopher Jen expressed gratitude to the chief judge for her visit.
Jen, however, highlighted ongoing rehabilitation programmes across facilities under his command, including vocational skills training and moral instruction at the Suleja centre.
He assured Justice Abdulmalik that the released inmates would be well-equipped for societal reintegration and would not return to custody.
“We are committed to preparing inmates for meaningful contributions to the society because of the Correctional Service’s role in justice administration,” he emphasised.
Also speaking, the Officer-in-charge of the custodial centre, Assistant Controller of Corrections Sunday Ejeh expressed delight over the release of the inmates.
Ejeh said the exercise would inspire hope among the remaining inmates and ease population pressure in the facility.
He requested more visits from the chief judge to advance decongestion and rehabilitation efforts.
“Thi exercise motivates inmates and reinforce the importance of reforms,” he said.
Highlight of the exercise was the chief judge’s tour of the vocational training centre, where she and her entourage witnessed inmates actively engaged in tailoring, shoe making, bag making, bead crafting and cosmetics production.
The firsthand observation reinforced the transformative impact of custodial reforms on inmate reformation, in line with the Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche’s vision of a modern correctional system.
The exercise underscores the judiciary’s commitment to justice delivery, rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. (NAN)
