COVID-19: El-Rufai approves release of 72 convicts

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has approved the release of 72 convicts from the Kaduna and Kafanchan Correctional Centres as part of government’s efforts to check the spread of COVID-19.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Aisha Dikko, who announced the release of the inmates on Tuesday, said 69 of the convicts were released in Kaduna, while three were freed in Kafanchan.

According to a breakdown by the Commissioner of Justice, 42 inmates who were freed from the Kaduna Correctional Centre, were convicts who were given options of fine not exceeding N50,000.

The attorney general said that four inmates were serving three years and above with less than six months of their sentence to serve.

The commissioner also said that one of the inmates had spent 75 per cent of his sentence after remission, while 22 others were convicted for minor offences.

“From the Kafanchan Custodial Centre, two inmates were freed with three months left on their sentence, while one inmate was released based on old age,’’ she said.