Kebbi Chief Judge pardons 74, Admits 37 on Bail

By:Abdullahi Faruk Birnin Kebbi

Kebbi State Acting Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Umar Abubakar has pardoned 74 persons awaiting trial and granted 34 no bail with a condition attach to their bail to any reliable surety they can provides before the court.

The chief Judge pardoned the above persons while on visit to Birnin Kebbi Old correctional facility in Birnin Kebbi. The visit was part of his constitutional Powers to visit all correctional facility across the state and where possible can admit bail and also pardoned some whom have minor offences and those with health challenges among other.

In his remarks, Officer in charge of Birnin Kebbi correctional centre, DC Y. Richard, Said the visit is timely and appt because the facility is meant to accommodate only 400 imates but only awaiting trial is over 400 and than convicted 18, So we are glad to receives acting chief Judge to our facility today.

He explained that there is urgent need for decongestion of the facility, the number of imates and awaiting trial is beyond the capacity of the center. ” So we are happy with your visit because surely today the facility will comes back to it normal capacity, he explained”.

He equally lamented on the healthcare challenges facing some of the imates and those awaiting trial to be looked into. ” At the centre level we have done our part but do to their numbers our own support can’t served them all, he said”.

Chief Judge, gave immediate directives to officer in charge of the correctional centre to forward a request of what is needed to take care of the imates and those awaiting trial in the area of their health status to his office via chief Register High Court Birnin Kebbi for an immediate assistance. Thereafter Chief Judge Honourable Justice Umar Abubakar adjourned visit to Monday 7th August 2023 for further continuation of the said visit to other correctional centres.

Personalities in the chief Judge entourage while on visit are chief Register High Court, chief Register Shari’a court of Appeal, Director Public Prosecution from ministry of Justice, Police IPOs and prosecutors,NDLEA, DSS and NCSDC prosecutors

Other were DCR’s, Senior Lawyers from ministry of Justice, chief Magistrate court 1, Court Registers among other staff all are in company of chief Judge entourage to the correctional centre visit.