FCT Minister Secures The Release Of 29 Prisoners In Abuja

oge okonkwo

July 18, 2014 12:49 PM

The minister also presented the sum of N10,000 to each of them for transportation back to their homes

Twenty-nine prisoners have been granted amnesty by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Bala Mohammed. The prisoners were said to be serving time at the Kuje Medium Security Prison and the Suleja Prison for different offences that have option of fine.

The prisoners were convicted with various amounts of ranging from N55,000 to N3,000, but could not pay due to their economic backgrounds and had to be sent to prison.

The ceremony took place at the Kuje Prison where the Minister was represented by the General Counsel of the FCT Administration, Ima Okpongete. In a speech made through Mr. Okpongete, the FCT Minister noted that the gesture was in tandem with the disposition of his administration to impact positively on the welfare of the people, particularly the less privileged.

Mr. Mohammed added that he decided to grant amnesty to the convicts by offsetting their various fines because he believed that many of them could still be reformed and contribute positively to societal development.

He advised the beneficiaries of the gesture to permanently keep away from crime, so as not to find themselves in prison again.

In approving the amnesty the minister paid a total of fine of N543, 500. He also presented the sum of N10,000 to each of them to enable them transport themselves home.

A breakdown of the amount shows that 10 prisoners whose combined fines totaled N149,500 were released from Medium Security Prison, Kuje, while 19 others whose total fines amounted to N316,000 were released from Suleja Prison.

Mohammed was duly thanked by the Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Gwagwalada Abuja, K.O Yusuf in a special letter of appreciation and the Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Kuje Prison, Musa Tanko, who thanked the minister on behalf of the pardoned inmates.

oge okonkwo