NUJ, LG pay fines of eight inmates of Sokoto prison

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council, in
collaboration with Sokoto North Local Government Area on Wednesday
paid N100,000 fines to effect the release of eight inmates from
prison.
The inmates, who were serving various jail terms, could not pay their
fines, which ranged from N1,500 to N20,000.
The Chairman, Sokoto North Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdullahi
Hassan, said that the gesture was part of efforts to alleviate the
sufferings of the inmates.
Hassan urged the freed inmates and those still serving their jail
terms, as well as those awaiting trial to accept their fate as act of
God.
“These are travails of life, which could befall anybody, including
myself and anybody you see around here now,” he said.
The state Commissioner of Justice, Alhaji Nuhu Adamu, described the
gesture as a welcomed development.
Adamu said: “It would further help in reducing prison congestion.”
Adamu warned all the freed inmates to shun acts capable of bringing
them back to the prison.
The Assistant National Secretary, NUJ Zone ‘A’, Shehu Ahmed, promised
that the NUJ would partner with any organisation or institutions to
alleviate the suffering of the poor.
Ahmed recalled that the union in Sokoto State had in 2012 paid the
fines of 11 inmates from the prison to secure their release.
He further called for the logical conclusion of the ongoing reforms of
the judiciary by the federal government.
The Controller of the prison, Ibrahim Maradun, commended the union and
the local government for the gesture, urging others to emulate them.
One of the freed inmates, Isa Goronyo, thanked the union and the
council for the kind gesture, promising to be of good conduct.