Ajiya Ayuba
Bauchi state governor Sen. Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has freed over 153 prisoners and provided them with cash money to start businesses that will help their lives and to be good citizens.
The prisoners were granted a pardon by the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed under the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which gives such power to the Governor under the prerogative of mercy.
Governor Bala who addresses the prisoners at the Government House Bauchi, charged them to be law abiding citizens and contribute to the development of Bauchi state and Nigeria at whole.
Added that his administration was concerned with the present judicial system that causes unnecessary hardship to inmates and promised to introduce a policy that would reduce the state of awaiting trial with a view to decongesting correctional centers.
In her part, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar who is the Bauchi state chief judge and the Chairman of the State Council on the prerogative of mercy, Barrister Abubakar Abdulhamid Bununu who is the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of the state, called on the inmates to reciprocate the effort by avoiding anti-social behavior when they reunite with their families.
Also speaking, the Comptroller of the State Correctional Service, Ali Abubakar Bajoga commended the Governor for the gesture noting that it was the largest pardon in the history of the State.
Speaking on behalf of the prisoners, Sa’idu Adamu Giade expressed their happiness for the freedom granted to them and promise to be law-abiding.
Adamu Giade thanked governor Bala for the cash money given to them after their release, promising to make good use of the money in order to buster their businesses.
