Yuletide: Bello frees 114 inmates in FCT 

 

 

About one hundred and fourteen prison inmates, yesterday breathed air of freedom after their court fines were paid by the FCT Administration.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, disclosed this when the Presidential Committee on Prison De-congestion visited the Kuje Medium Security to review cases of inmates who had either been fined, but could not pay or had stayed beyond the terms which their offenses could have attracted by law.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Chinyaka Ohaa, the minister said the gesture by the FCT administration was part of efforts to de-congest the prisons and assist the freed inmates to reintegrate into the society.

According to him, the FCT Administration will continue to partner with the Presidential Committee to identify and support indigent inmates who do not have the means to pay the fines imposed on them.

He revealed that the administration had been partnering with the Nigerian Prison Service to design and build new prison facilities in the Territory, adding that about 36.3 hectares of land for the building of a new prison in Abuja.

Speaking earlier, Chief Judge of FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello commended the FCT Minister for the establishment of a standard Family as well as Children and young person’s Court in the FCT, adding that the facility which is the first of its kind in the country was expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

He noted that the two courts would go a long way in addressing various cases involving young persons who presently have to be taken to open courts where adults are arraigned.

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