Chief Judge Frees 42 Inmates, Convicts 37 Others In Adamawa

The Adamawa State Chief Judge, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman has discharged and acquitted 42 inmates, 24 granted bail and convicted 37 others in the state.

AbdulRahman who headed the committee on prerogative of mercy, pardoned the inmates on Friday at Yolde Pate Correctional Centre in the state.

The custodial centre had earlier presented 182 awaiting trial inmates for review, out of which 37 were convicted.

Inmates with minor cases which were non-custodial were discharged and asked to carry out a committee’s services to serve as deterrent to others.

The Yolde Pate Custodial Centre which was constructed to accommodate 800 inmates had 665 of them on awaiting trail list, 185 convicted, 10 lifers while16 are inmates on death row.

One of the inmates, Mrs Saraya Silma, who spent ten years over defamation of character thanked the committee for tempering justice with mercy.

Silma explained that she was accused of witchcraft, an allegation that was unfounded and unsubstantiated by the complainant.

The Chief Judge equally donated N12,000 as transport to the freed inmate.

She urged them to take their freedom as divine intervention as well as an opportunity for them to mend their ways and lead a worthy lifestyle.

Mr Dominic David, who spoke for the freed inmates promised to be good citizens as they unite again with the larger society.

The committee had earlier exempted cases associated with murder, theft, culpable homicide and kidnapping from pardon across all the custodial centres in the state.