The Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration has pardoned 4,013 inmates in eight years across the Kano prisons (correctional facilities).
The State Government spent N4,949 million as fines and compensation for the inmates to be released.
Governor Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, made this known at the occasion commemorating Eid-el-fitr celebration at the Goron Dutse custodial facility.
Forty-three inmates with various offences serving jail terms were pardoned at the occasion marking Eid-el-fitr.
“Ganduje’s government has within the eight years settled fines and compensations for the inmates to the sum of N4,949 million,” Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hassan Musa Fagge, disclosed in a statement at the weekend.
Stressing that freedom is everything to human life, Ganduje called on the pardoned inmates to “go and sin no more.”
“Exhibit good behaviour wherever you find yourselves in the society,” the governor said.
Controller of correctional service in Kano State, Suleiman Muhammad Inuwa, said the gesture offered by the Kano State Government of releasing inmates on payment of fine, compensation and pardon will assist in decongesting the facilities and ensure peaceful atmosphere in the yard.
Inuwa appealed to other states to emulate the gesture and also urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Correctional Service by being law-abiding citizens with good behaviours.
Chairman of the council on prerogative of mercy, Abdullahi Garba Rano, appreciated Ganduje for exercising the power conferred on him by the constitution to release the inmates on the recommendation of the correctional service management and the council.
