As part of efforts to reduce the congestion across custodial centres in the country, the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS) in partnership with Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik, has released an inmate at the Suleja custodial facility and granted bail to four other.

Controller General, NCoS Haliru Nababa who visited the facility alongside Justice Abdulmalik, in Suleja, Niger state, appealed to magistrates and justices to adopt non-custodial service sentencing to reduce the number of inmates incarcerated.

The NCoS boss said some inmates should not have been in custody in the first place.

Represented by Francis John, the controller of Federal Capital Territory Command, Nadaba urged the released inmates to “be of good behaviour and ensure that they are gainfully engaged with a choice trade, to avoid reoffending.”

Justice Abdulmalik reviewed 61 cases ranging from murder, kidnapping and armed robbery among others. He said that custodial centre visits by justice officials are statutory to ensure justice is served.

The chief judge said her team will ensure that judges and courts embrace the non-custodial service measures in the state as well as ensuring speedy access to justice.

She commended the authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service for their support in providing security and ensuring adequate coordination of inmates in the custodial centres during the exercise.