Gombe State Chief Judge Urges Released Inmates To Uphold Good Deeds
The Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Halima Mohammed, has urged recently released inmates from the state’s custodial centres to embrace positive behavior as they reintegrate into society. Justice Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Gombe State Criminal Justice and Inquiry Committee, made this appeal after releasing 185 inmates from the Billiri and Gombe custodial centres.
During her visit to the centres, Justice Mohammed commended her committee for meticulously reviewing each case to ensure that only those deserving of freedom were released. She emphasized that the exercise, aside from decongesting the facilities, aimed to improve the well-being of the inmates.
“In the Gombe correctional centre, the committee has set free 75 inmates on bail, 61 unconditionally, and 10 due to their good conduct,” she said. In Billiri correctional centre, “six inmates were released on bail, 26 unconditionally, and seven for their good conduct.”
Justice Mohammed also called on magistrates in the state to ensure fairness and thoroughness in their judgments, stressing the importance of not allowing personal biases to influence their decisions.
“I have visited the prison for the second time and observed some cases I left behind. I have spoken to my magistrates, urging them to do the right thing so that we will not have our children languishing in prison custody unjustly,” she stated.
The Comptroller of the Gombe Medium Correctional Centre, Lawan Idris, praised the committee’s efforts, noting that the initiative has significantly decongested the centres and reduced the federal government’s expenditure on inmate feeding.
