A graduate of Microbiology from the University of Jos and resident of Bauchi, Daniel Isaac, has spent one month at the Bauchi State Correctional Facility after bagging a one-year jail term.

Isaac disclosed that the police said his offence was being public at about 10:40 pm after watching the AFCON final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast last February.

Speaking with The Guardian on Saturday at the Bauchi Correctional Facility when he was freed by some Non-governmental organisations, Isaac said that he was picked up behind Stadium in the Bauchi Capital when he left the viewing center.

He was among the 21 convicted inmates with mild offences that were freed by ‘Heart That Truly Cares, Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Alwadata and ASHH Foundation’.

Isaac said the police charged him to court, where he was sentenced to a one-year term or fine of N10,000.

“The day Nigeria played AFCON final match, after the match I was heading home when some cops arrested me around Jubilee Hotel, that it was late night,” Isaac said.

“I had visited my friend around that place, I went to watch the game and after that I was returning home when they came with their Hilux van while I was waiting to pick a motorcycle.

“The stopped and packed me and some others people to their area command, from there I was like how do we finish this and they said that no, we would be charged to court. They said were arrested at a black spot. From the court they brought me to prison, court ruled that I should pay a fine of N10,000 or one year term.

“I spent 25 days in jail. My Mom has been working hard to get the money, she promised to pay the money as soon as she get her salary before the NGOs came to intervene.”

Mrs Josephine Ibilola, the Founder of the Heart That Truly Cares (HTTC), said that her foundation in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bauchi Central, Alwadata Initiative, and ASHH Foundation had visited the facility to know the needs of the inmates for effective assistance.

“When we came, we discovered that some of them are held for small fine. We have some of them that are in jail for inability to as small as N10,000 and even N5,000. We were able to pay about N700,000 for 21 inmates. We also donated items like; plates, shoes, toiletries, buckets, Holy Qur’an, Holy Bibles, praying mats, towels and more.”

Also, Pam Dauda the Rotary Club of Bauchi Central said that the gesture was done as part of their contributions to the society. (The Guardian: Text, Excluding Headline)

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