FG Releases 31 Inmates Including 14years Rahama Jailed Over Forceful Marriage In Kano
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Federal Government through the Presidential Committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion has set free no fewer than 31 inmates from the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Kano.
Among those released was Rahama Husseini, who was jailed in 2015 at the age of 14years over forceful marriage by her father.
Rahama’s release was sequel to the intervention by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), that drew the attention of the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion, Justice I. U Bello (rtd.) to her case.
Rahama Husseini, who was alleged to have been forcibly married off by her father had issues with her husband three days after when he attempted to consummate the marriage and a struggle ensued which led to his unfortunate death.
While granting State Pardon to Rahama, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State promised that the State Government will support her rehabilitation process.
Rahama had been in custody for almost seven years now.
Representatives of UNODC and Buni Yadi Foundation were also present to lend their voice and support to the release of Rahama.
These were disclosed in a statement made available to Forefront News by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice at the weekend.
According to the statement, the Presidential Committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion facilitated the release of the inmates during its visit to the Kano Correctional Center.
The Committee was in Kano for an on-the-spot assessment of condition of Correctional Centres and inmates with a view to making payment of fines for inmates who were convicted for minor offences with option of fines but unable to pay the fines as well as general review of peculiar cases.
During the visits, 19 inmates were released through payment of fines by the Federal Ministry of Justice while three were released through payment of fines by the Buni Yadi Foundation and two released through payment made by Policy Vault Africa.
Similarly, seven of the inmates were released as a result of old age.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN had on October 30, 2017 constituted and inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion.
The Committee which has focused more attention on reformation of the juvenile Justice in recent times, has so far released over ten thousand inmates.