Bauchi Governor’s Wife Frees 52 Prisoners

By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi

Barrister Aisha Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar wife of the Bauchi State Governor has secured the release of 52 inmates serving various prison jail terms at the headquarters of Zaki, Tafawa Balewa, Nabardo, Alkaleri, Ningi, Misau, Katagum, Jama’are and Bauchi LGAs.

Speaking during the formal release of the prisoners at the Bauchi Central prison, the Governor’s wife explained that 50 out of the released inmates were those with minor offences adding that there was a special appeal from the state Controller of Nigerian Prison Service in respect of one Adamu Kolo on the ground of his ill-health while another inmate Zainab Musa was also considered being the only female prisoner in detention.

According to her, the sums of N120, 000 and 47, 000 were paid as fines for Adamu Kolo and Zainab Musa respectively like other inmates to secure their freedom.

“We all know that our prisons are highly congested, the school and the vocational facilities put in place in the prison have been over stretched and cannot cater for the number of inmates.

This therefore, defeats the aims of reforming the inmates during their stay in prison’’, she said.

Mrs Abubakar who also donated the sums of N5, 000 each to the outgoing prisoners noted that the ex-convicts would be trained on various skills in order to transform their lives as they reintegrate into the society and be provided with equipment to set up their own businesses and occupations.

“Let me emphasize that conditions are attached to those that their fines have been settled.

The conditions include having a guarantor who will make sure that they fulfill other conditions. The released inmates will have to go through a vocational training as listed in the released conditions. And this will be monitored by my team working closely with the guarantors’’. She pointed out.

Earlier in his welcome address, Controller of Prisons, Bauchi state Command, Suleiman Tsadu Suleiman who lauded the governor’s wife for the gesture urged the freed prisoners to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid committing crimes that would bring them back to jail.

“I will like to use this opportunity to call on other well meaning individuals, philanthropists, NGOs and other Corporate Organizations to emulate Her Excellency, Barrister Aisha M.A Abubakar by assisting prison inmates with skills acquisition materials and other basic support for the overall interest of the society’’, he added.