By Adaeze Onuora, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, has celebrated Christmas With Prisoners in the Abakaliki corrections center, while also granted Pardon to 53 inmate with cash gifts given them to start up a business .
The prison inmates was granted Pardon on Wednesday, at the Abakaliki corrections center, they are including two women and Fifty one men
According to Ebonyi Governor Wife, she said that inmate who was given pardon are those, that were unable to perfect their bail conditions after being granted bail.
She, therefore disclosed that she have decided to cleared all the debts of the inmates in line with her pet project, BERWO.
“My modest project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children, and Internally Displaced Persons (BERWO), provides succour for the less privileged, giving them assured hope through our numerous programs.
“On October 13, 2023, I visited this correction centre. In the course of my intervention with the authorities of the correctional centre and the inmates, my attention was drawn to the fact that some inmates were already convicted but given the option to pay a fine and be released from custody. Unfortunately, those inmates could not pay the said fines and were consequently held in custody.
“My attention was also drawn to another category of inmates. These were inmates granted bail with conditions but are yet to and unable to perfect their bail condition.
“Moved by the condition of these inmates and the sense of duty as the mother of this state and worsened by overcrowding of this centre, I brought it to the knowledge of my husband, the father of the state, for his esteemed intervention and he didn’t hesitate one date in giving his fatherly support by undertaking to pay the court fines and requirements of the perfection of the bail and condition to secure the release of the inmates from the custodial centre,” she stated.
Governor's Wife, however charged the inmates to change and live a life worthy for emulation, and also urged them to shun anything that would bring them back to prison.
While Speaking, the state attorney general and commissioner for justice, Ben Odoh, he noted that the released of 53 inmates by Her Excellency, has reduce prison congestion in Abakaliki corrections center
According to him, the Correction Centre is currently carrying more than its capacity and charged everyone to put all hands on deck to change the dilapidated state of the criminal justice system in the State.
“Our situation in the criminal justice system is in a dilapidated state and is gasping for help."
Odoh, therefore, thanked Her Excellency, for releasing 53 out from prison, which have bring decongestion of inmate in the cell.
One of the Inmate, Mr Abel Nkwuda , thanked the Governor’s wife for releasing them this Christmas season , while promise not to involve in any crime that will bring them back to prison
