Ebonyi governor gets accolades over release of woman jailed for stealing N400 cocoyam
David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
A human rights group, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Ebonyi State chapter, has applauded the state Governor, Dave Umahi for effecting the release a woman accused of stealing cocoyam worth N400.
The woman and her children had been in Abakaliki Prisons for months following her inability to fulfill the bail conditions given to her by the court.
The woman’s case was brought to the knowledge of the governor by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) when he visited Abakaliki Prisons to investigate a jail break by the inmates.
The commission briefed Umahi on the woman’s conditions and he immediately ordered her release.In a statement by CDHR yesterday signed by its Chairman, Emeka Anosike CDHR said the governor’s action portrayed him as a lover of human rights.
‘’The governor has shown that he is a human rights activist and we commend him for his benevolence in directing the release of the indigent woman. There are many similar cases in the prisons today. We are appealing to him to also look into their plights
‘’We also appeal to him to further direct the Committee for Prerogative of Mercy in the state to look at the cases of prison inmates, who are mentally-deranged,” the statement read.
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5 Comments
There is nothing to celebrate in this action. I do not condone theft no matter the situation but the governor can do something about the ex-stream poverty in his state by being pro active not just sitting in a locked up office. A lot of these governors are good for a local council chair man
Your spelling of extreme is wrong!The Bible says he who shows mercy,shall receive mercy of the Lord.The governor did right by releasing a poor woman and her children who stole foodstuff.In Igboland food and water are God’s blessings and people give them free to even strangers.She stole foodstuff, probably to feed her children,and it is ridiculous to even charge her to court for that,when people are stealing millions to buy private jet.
God also stated thou shall not steal He also stated seek yee shall find and ask it shall be given unto you . What about that?
Law in Nigeria is only for the poor. The rich and the connecteds can even pull down the heavens and nothing will happen to them.
The judge or magistrate who sent this woman to jail should be retrained. The laws are made for people and not the other way round.
If this woman was a first time offender, then the best approach would have been to put her on probation.
Or still give her maybe a week or so. 400 naira is not even a day’s labour rate and for a judge to bundle a mother and her children into jail because the mother cannot fulfill bail conditions. How about give her some job to do, which could satisfy the fine that the conviction carries?
This is just despicable and deplorable.
We will review and take appropriate action.