Kebbi Governor’s wife, Dr Zainab Bagudu and F.I.D.A. collaborate to Free 30 prisoners

Her Excellency Dr Zainab Atiku Bagudu working with the Kebbi state Federation of Female lawyers FIDA has paid outstanding fines to free up to 30 prisoners from prison. The governor’s wife also donated food, clothing other assorted items to the 329 inmates of the New Birnin Kebbi Prison.

The prisoners to be freed have been carefully selected by a joint committee of female lawyers, prisons officials and social workers to rehabilitate those freed. Chairperson of the committee Barrister Maryam Kaoje said the prisoners to benefit are those with health challenges, the reformed, and those about to complete their prison terms but have some fines due.

The Governor’s wife was represented on a visit to the prison by Hajiya Maimuna Jega called on the inmates to take skills acquisition given to them very seriously and as a measure of ensuring their proper integration into the society at the end of their prison term.

Some inmates who bared their minds during the visit called on the State Government under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu to as a matter of urgency come to their aid by restoring/repairing their source of water. They also pleaded with him to invoke his powers of prerogative of mercy to end their continued stay in the prison as some of them have proved to be of good character. These requests have been passed to the state governor.Image may contain: 3 people, people standing

In his remarks, the State Comptroller of Prisons represented by Assistant Comptroller Mahmud Umar Mato commended Her Excellency for the humanitarian gesture calling on members of the Society to emulate her. He recalled that this was the second time they were receiving such wonderful support from her which he described as apt and timely promising to consider inmates that fell within the category of exemplary conduct.

The Comptroller explained that many of the inmates are trained with skills and crafts capable of sustaining them after discharge, appealing to the government and private sector to support them with additional training materials and also accommodate the inmates in empowerment programmes.

Just last week, the the commandant of Nigerian Prisons Service Academy Ijebu-Igbo Ogun State, Assistant Controller General Mariun Babatunde Ekundayo Sheme led thirty three officers from the rank of Deputy Controller on a familiarization visit to the state during which he appealed to the government and well meaning individuals to help the service in the decongestion of prisons in state. The Deputy Governor Sama’ila Yombe at the time assured the State Government would perform its statutory responsibility on Amnesty for inmates.

By Hayyatu Bawa

Special Assistant the Wife of Governor