ABOUT 22 awaiting trial inmates at the old Minna Medium Security Custodial Centre have been set free by the Chief Judge (CJ) of Niger State, Justice Aisha Bawa.

The CJ gave the order during a two days valedictory visit to the custodial centre, as part of activities line up for her exist from the state’s public service.

Justice Bwari explained that the inmates were set free, as they have served part of their jail term if they were to be convicted of their various offences and have proved to be of good behaviour while awaiting trial.

She maintained that two inmates were discharged based on the fact that there were no proofs of evidence to warrant their continued stay at the Centre.
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According to her, First Information Report (FIR) from the Police claimed they could not trace their original case file.

The C.J further explained that her decision to free all the inmates was based on the advise by the Director Department of Public Prosecution, (DPP) in the state’s Ministry of Justice.

She however, expressed displeasure on the attitude of Police prosecutors for delaying most of the cases leading to the denial of justice for the inmates and caused them to remain in the Centre without being tried for so long.

She cautioned the released inmates to desist from any act capable of bringing them back to the custody again.

The Controller of Operations of the Custodial Centre, Sulayman Abdulkadir, thanked justice Bwari for helping to decongest the facility, adding that the facility has been over stretched with over 500 inmates.
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