In a significant step toward prison decongestion and justice reform, Halima Mohammed, the Chief Judge of Gombe State, has ordered the release of 85 inmates from custodial centres in Gombe and Billiri.
The release followed a four-day inspection tour of correctional facilities across the state by the Criminal Justice and Inquiry Committee, which she leads.
Between Tuesday and Friday, the committee visited custodial centres in Gombe, Billiri, Cham, and Tula. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the initiative resulted in the unconditional release of 45 inmates—42 from Gombe and 3 from Billiri. Additionally, 40 inmates were released under specific conditions.
Justice Mohammed emphasized the importance of promoting the welfare of inmates and easing the burden on overcrowded facilities. “Our mission is to identify inmates eligible for bail or those deserving of an unconditional release in line with the law,” she stated.
She reminded the inmates still serving sentences that clemency is beyond judicial authority and rests solely with the state governor.
To those released, she offered words of encouragement: “Use this opportunity to reform and contribute positively to society.”
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Salihu Abdullahi, Controller of Corrections for Gombe State, provided stark figures underscoring the need for the intervention.
The Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre—built in 1919 for 379 inmates—currently houses over 1,000. Of those, 628 are awaiting trial, 344 are convicted, and 101 are on death row.
He noted that the current state of the facility violates the Correctional Service Act of 2019, which mandates humane conditions for all inmates.
The exercise aligns with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which empowers chief judges to review cases and inspect detention centres within their jurisdiction.