Justice Hasfat Abdulrahaman, Chief Judge of Adamawa State, has released Saraya Silma, a sexagenarian who had spent ten years awaiting trial at the Yolde-pate Correctional Centre in Yola, the state capital.
Silma, who appeared feeble, stated that she had been accused of witchcraft, which the complainant denied.
The Chief Judge, after enquiring about the accused’s residence, gave her N12,000 to convey herself back to Cameroon.
Out of the 182 awaiting trial inmates presented to the Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee, which is led by the state Chief Judge, 32 were dismissed, 25 were bailed, and 37 were convicted at the Yolde Pate Correctional Centre.
While some of them released were non-custodial because they were required to perform a committee service, such as cleaning up public facilities in their communities, no fewer than 13 cases were evaluated downward during the process.
The 800-capacity correctional facility now houses 886 convicts.
Out of the 886 inmates, 665 are awaiting trial, 185 are convicted, 10 are sentenced to life in prison, and 16 are on death row.
Several cases were registered for the hearing, with the exception of murder, theft, culpable homicide, and kidnapping.
The exercise amused both awaiting trial and convicted inmates. Meanwhile, the Chief Judge, who commended the participants in the exercise, warned them to avoid disorderly behaviour immediately.
She persuaded them to see their liberation as a heavenly intervention as well as an opportunity to change their ways and live a good life.
Dominic David, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, committed to turn a new leaf.
While thanking CJ and her staff, David expressed hope for a better future for themselves.
