Gombe CJ orders release of 85 inmates to decongest prisons

The Chief Judge of Gombe State, Justice Halima Mohammed, has ordered the release of 85 inmates from custodial centres across the state as part of efforts to decongest prisons and promote justice.

The release followed the review of cases by the Gombe State Criminal Justice and Inquiry Committee, which visited four custodial centres—Gombe, Billiri, Cham, and Tula—between Tuesday and Friday.

Of the 85 inmates freed, 42 were unconditionally released from the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre, while three were freed from the Billiri centre. An additional 38 inmates were released on certain conditions—36 from Gombe and two from Billiri.

Justice Mohammed, who also chairs the committee, explained that the primary goal of the visits was to review minor cases, especially those involving inmates awaiting trial. She clarified that only the state governor has the authority to grant pardons to convicted inmates based on good behaviour.

“We are here to assess cases and offer relief to deserving inmates, particularly those eligible for bail or release,” she told the inmates. She also encouraged those released to make positive changes in their lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

“You have been given a second chance—don’t waste it. It’s not a good thing to find yourself back here,” she added.
Salihu Abdullahi, Controller of Corrections in Gombe State, praised the initiative, calling it timely and impactful.

He revealed that the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre, built in 1919 to hold 379 inmates, currently houses 1,076. Of these, 628 are awaiting trial, 344 are convicted, and 101 are on death row—far beyond the facility’s capacity.

He emphasized that such congestion violates the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 and highlighted the importance of the Chief Judge’s intervention.

In a related effort to rehabilitate inmates, over 100 prisoners in Gombe State were trained in vocational skills earlier this year.

The empowerment initiative, spearheaded by Justice Mohammed in partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service, is aimed at easing inmates’ reintegration into society upon release.

The Star