As part of efforts to decongest custodial centres across the country through the use of non-custodial measures, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in partnership with Niger State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has released an inmate at the Suleja custodial facility and granted bail to four others.
Controller-General (CG), NCoS, Haliru Nababa, who visited the facility alongside Justice Abdulmalik, yesterday, in Suleja, Niger State, appealed to magistrates and justices to adopt non-custodial service sentencing, to reduce the number of inmates in the custodial centre, who have no business being there in the first instance.
Represented by the Controller of the Service, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Francis John, the CG urged the released inmates to “be of good behaviour and ensure they are gainfully engaged with a choice trade, to avoid reoffending.”
Abdulmalik, accompanied by senior magistrates and other principal officers of the state’s Ministry of Justice, reviewed 61 cases ranging from murder, and kidnapping to armed robbery, among others, and said custodial centre visits by justice officials were statutory to ensure justice.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of FCT NCoS, Adamu Duza, the chief judge promised that her team would ensure that judges and courts embraced the non-custodial service measures in the state, as well as speedy access to justice.
She equally admonished those on bail and the released inmate, Abubakar Umar, to “stay off crime.”
The CJ commended the authorities of the NCoS for their support in providing security and ensuring adequate coordination of inmates in the custodial centres during the exercise.
