THE Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion, led by Ishaq Bello, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has secured the release of 84 inmates from the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Prison Service (NPS).
The committee was also responsible for various fines of the released persons who were serving different jail terms at the facilities in the state.
In a statement issued in Abuja by Aminu Suleman, Edo State Command Public Relations Officer of the NPS, the release was made possible through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in partnership with the Edo State government and donors.
Other members of the committee, according to a report by The Nation includes Deputy Controller General of Prisons, Garba Abubakar , Ayoola Daniels as Secretary and several directors spread across the various relevant federal ministries.
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The statement read that some of the excited inmates already acquired skills on various trades while serving their jail terms.
According to reports, one of those convicted, 44-year old Andrew Obi who was jailed for stealing has become a cobbler, making bags while in prison.
The freed prisoners were urged to become useful citizens and apologise to their parents and well-wishers for their misdeeds.
The beneficiaries were released from the various prisons: MSP Oko — 22; Benin Prison (old) — 33; Ozalla Farm Centre — 3; Auchi Prison — 7; Female Prison, Auchi — 1; Ubiaja Prison — 3 and Ogba Farm Project — 15.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin