By Collins Christopher
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has approved the release of 72 convicts from the Kaduna and Kafanchan Correctional Centres, as part of government’s efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
Aisha Dikko, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice announced the release of the inmates on Tuesday 14th April 2020, adding that 69 of the convicts were released in Kaduna while three were freed in Kafanchan, Kaduna South.
Fourty-two inmates reportedly freed from the Kaduna Correctional Centre were convicts given an option of fine not exceeding N50,000 according to a breakdown by the Commissioner of Justice.
Furthermore, she said that four inmates were serving three years and above, with less than six months of their sentence to serve.
The commissioner noted that one of the inmates has spent 75% of his sentence after remission and the 22 others were convicted for minor offences:
“Also from the Kafanchan Custodial Centre, two inmates were freed with three months left on their sentence while one inmate was released due to old age,’’
she further explained.
