Seven inmates detained at Kano custodial centres have regained their freedom after the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, ordered their release on medical grounds.
Justice Aboki issued the order during a jail delivery exercise in which she reviewed the cases of 82 awaiting-trial persons detained at the Kurmawa and Goron Dutse Custodial Centres.
The exercise, according to the Kano State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, was aimed at speeding up the administration of criminal justice, protecting the rights of detainees and reducing congestion in custodial facilities.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Musbahu Lawan, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Lawan said the Chief Judge reviewed cases involving inmates, including some who had spent several years in custody without formal charges.
“During the exercise, Justice Aboki ordered the immediate release of seven inmates on medical grounds after considering their health conditions and other circumstances surrounding their continued detention,” the statement said.
Addressing the inmates, the Chief Judge stressed the need for justice to be administered fairly and without unnecessary delays.
She said the judiciary must ensure that persons in custody were not detained beyond what was permitted by law, underscoring the importance of timely trials and respect for fundamental rights.
The exercise brought together key stakeholders in the criminal justice system, including the Chief Registrar of the High Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, representatives of the Commissioner of Police and Legal Aid counsel.
The Controller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Ahmed Yusuf Lakpene, urged the released inmates to regard their freedom as an opportunity to rebuild their lives and remain law-abiding.
Lakpene advised them to avoid conduct that could return them to conflict with the law and to make positive use of the opportunity provided by their release.
He commended the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, for providing an environment that promotes the humane treatment of inmates in custodial centres.
The Kano Correctional Service controller said jail delivery exercises remained an important mechanism for decongesting custodial centres and ensuring that access to justice was not denied to detainees.
The Kano State Command of the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to working with the judiciary, police, prosecution authorities, Legal Aid and other justice-sector stakeholders to ensure speedy trials, decongest custodial facilities and protect the rights of persons in custody.
The exercise highlights the continuing challenge of awaiting-trial detention in Nigeria, where delays in investigation, prosecution and adjudication can leave suspects in custody for prolonged periods before their cases are determined.
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