TheCable

The Niger government has secured the release of 80 inmates serving different jail terms in the correctional facilities after paying N20 million in fines.

Speaking at the medium correctional custodial centre in Minna on Monday, Yakubu Garba, deputy governor, said the convicts, who were first-time criminals, were released from eight correctional centres in the state.

The deputy governor 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.

Salman Abdulkadir, controller of the Niger command, Nigeria correctional service, said the state government paid “about N20 million as fines and compensation” to secure freedom for the inmates.

He said the release of the inmates would help decongest the prisons.

Danjuma Dankambari, one of the discharged inmates, appreciated the governor for securing their freedom and promised to be law-abiding and a better citizen.

Prior to this development, Aishatu Usman, the permanent secretary of the political affairs department, confirmed that 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 prerogative of mercy contained in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.