Zamfara State Chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu, has exercised his judicial powers to grant unconditional pardon to 30 prisoners who were held at the Gusau Central Correctional Centre. The prisoners, who included those sentenced to death and those awaiting trial, were released on Friday as part of the Chief Judge’s efforts to decongest the correctional facility and reform the justice system.
Justice Aliyu admonished the released inmates to shun all forms of criminal activities and become productive members of the society. He urged them to take advantage of the opportunity given to them and start a new life. He also warned them that if they were caught committing any crime again, they would face the full wrath of the law.
The Zamfara Director of Litigation, Barrister Aisha Jibril, who accompanied the Chief Judge during the visit, said that the pardon was based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which reviewed the cases of the inmates. She said that the Chief Judge also warned the pardoned inmates to change their traits and avoid associating with bad company.
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According to the records of the correctional centre, the most common offences that the inmates were charged with or convicted of were obtaining money under false pretense, witchcraft, rape, among others. The Chief Judge also ordered the transfer of some inmates to other correctional facilities in the state for security reasons. He assured the public that the judiciary would continue to dispense justice fairly and promptly in accordance with the law. #Zamfara