A nongovernmental organisation, Victory Idewele Foundation, Thursday, paid the sum of 10 million naira to enable 26 inmates with option of fine and compensations to regain their freedom in Kogi state.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Josiah Majebi who stated this during a three-day visit to the six correctional centres in the state said aside the payment of fines and compensations made by the foundation, the NGO also has decided to train the freed inmates for three months in Abuja to enable them acquire skills and become self reliant in the society.
Justice Majebi who was full of praises to the founder and chairman of the foundation, Mr Innocent Idelewe, for chosing Kogi state for the gesture said the support would go a long way to change the freed inmates positively.
“This visit is special and unique because in the history of the state, this type of additional event during correctional centre’s visit has never happened before. Prior to our preparation for this visit, the chairman, House Committee of Judiciary, Hon. Halidu Adejo, introduced Mr Idewele to me that he wants to pay fine and compensations of inmates so they can regain their freedom.
“I discussed with officers in charge of correctional centres in Ankpa, Dekina, Idah , Koton-Karfe, Kabba and Okene and the inmates in the category amounted to ten million naira which the foundation paid to Kogi state government.
“The foundation also released transport fare to all the free inmates with a promise to take them to Abuja to train them in skill acquisition with assurance that the foundation will provide them with accommodation, feeding and starter packs at the end of the training exercise, ” the CJ stated.
At Koton-Karfe, Maximum Security Correctional centre two inmates Mustapha Idris who was fined N50,000 regained his freedom while Kehinde Amaka sentenced to one year imprisonment with a fine of #300,000 benefited from the gesture of the foundation but has to remain in custody till the 15th of January, 2025 to complete his jail term.
