112 Inmates regain fr£edom in Adamawa.

112 Inmates regain freedom in Adamawa.

Justice Abdulrahman granted the freedom to the inmates during a visit to the correctional centres in the state as part of the activities marking the decongestion of prisons.

Those who regained their freedom were involved in minor offences ranging from the theft of goats, wrappers, or cases of borrowed money.

Meanwhile, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has earmarked N1 million to support the clearance of fines for indigent convicted of minor offences and who could not pay the fines against them in Adamawa State.

Justice Abdulharram, while commending the PPDC for paying fines for four inmates, noted that the gesture has helped in the decongestion of the correctional centres.

The Chief Judge also granted bail to 29 inmates and 52 who were convicted with an option of fine were reviewed at the Jimeta Custodial Centre.

Earlier, speaking on the initiative to spend N1m to pay fines for indigent inmates, Motunrayo Anibaba, the State Program Manager of PPDC, stated that the initiative is a step towards giving second chances to individuals who have served their sentences but remain in custody simply because they cannot afford to pay minor fines.

Anibaba further stated that the project is aimed at reducing overcrowding in custodial centres, restoring hope, and reinforcing PPDC’s commitment to justice and human dignity.

She pointed out that PPDC is collaborating with the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamawa State Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, and other key stakeholders in the state to ensure that the selection process is transparent, fair, and impactful.

According to her, the effort of the group is advancing justice reforms, protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens, and fostering inclusive governance.