ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has pardoned four thousand and thirteen inmates in eight years across correctional facilities in Kano.
Ganduje said: “the government has also settled fines and compensations for the inmates to the sum of four million, nine hundred and forty-nine thousand naira.”
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, stated this while pardoning another 43 inmates serving various jail terms in the spirit of Eid-el-Fitr celebration at the Goron Dutse custodial facility.
In a statement by the Deputy Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Hassan Musa Fagge, Ganduje was quoted as saying that freedom is everything to human life, therefore, the decision to pardon them in order to regain their freedom.
He urged the pardoned inmates to exhibit good character wherever they find themselves in society.
On his part, the Controller of the correctional service in the State, Suleiman Muhammad Inuwa explained that the gesture offered by the Kano State Government of releasing inmates on payment of fines, compensation and pardon will assist in decongesting the facilities and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the yard.
He also appealed to other states to emulate the gesture of Governor Ganduje and also urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Correctional Service by being law-abiding citizens through displaying good behaviour.
Speaking also, Abdullahi Garba Rano, the Chairman of the council on the prerogative of mercy, thanked the Governor for exercising the power conferred on him by the constitution to release the inmates on the recommendation of the correctional service management and the council.