By MURTALA ADEWALE, Kano

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday granted executive pardon to 136 inmates on civil incarceration at Kano central Correctional Centre.

While executing the gesture within his prerogative of mercy, Ganduje cautioned the inmates while regaining their freedom, to avoid all the acts of iniquities that may return them to the correctional center.

Speaking to the inmates at the Gorondutse Medium Correctional Centre yesterday, Ganduje disclosed that his administration had sustained the state pardon gesture, especially during Sallah festive period to extend the joyous moment with those incarcerated.

The governor equally noted the significance of the release was hinged on the commitment to decongest the overcrowded correctional center susceptible to incubating the deadly virus.

“We are here to also see how you are feeling and to share our joyous moment with you. We want those of you who repented to promise not to go back to their previous nefarious acts,” Ganduje said.

“Some of you are released because of ill-health, some stayed longer than necessary and some were incarcerated because they were not able to pay charges placed on them. The pardoning exercise was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to decongest Correctional Centres across the country. We are therefore following this directive, particularly because of COVID-19 pandemic, as directed by Mr President.”

Controller of Kano Correctional Centres, Sulaiman T. Sulaiman commended the governor for the regular state pardon and other humanitarian gestures extended to Correctional centers in Kano.

According to him, “His Excellency Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state was here during Eid-Fitr period, just in the last 70 days, and he released some inmates. Here we are, this hardworking governor is also releasing another set of inmates. They are 136.

“Your magnanimous intervention has always make Sallah celebration most joyful among the inmates, especially with donation of cattles and rams for the inmates,” Sulaiman said. (The Guardian)

Update news