Thirty-one inmates have been released from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Kano.

The spokesman to the minister of justice, Umar Gwandu, said on Sunday that the presidential committee on Correctional Centres Reform and Decongestion facilitated the release of the inmates during a visit to Kano.

“The committee was in Kano for an on-the-spot assessment of the conditions of correctional centres and inmates with a view to making payment of fines for inmates who were convicted of minor offences but were unable to pay the fines, as well as a general review of peculiar cases.

“During the visit, 19 inmates were released through payment of fines by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Three were released through payment of fines by the Buni Yadi Foundation and two were released as well through payment made by Policy Vault Africa.

“Similarly, an additional seven inmates were released due to old age,” he said.

He also noted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) brought to the attention of the chairman of the committee, Ishaq Bello, the special case of Rahama Husseini.

“In 2015, Rahama, said to be 14 years at the time, was alleged to have been forcefully married off by her father and three days after, whilst her husband attempted to consummate the marriage, a struggle ensued which led to his unfortunate death.

“While granting state pardon to Rahama, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State promised that the state government will support her rehabilitation process.

”She was said to have been in custody for almost seven years,” he revealed.

He said that representatives of UNODC and Buni Yadi Foundation were also present to lend their voices and support to the release of Ms Rahama.

On October 30, 2017, the minister of justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), constituted and inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Correctional Reforms and Decongestion.

Over 10,000 inmates have been released through the committee.

In recent times, the committee has focused more attention on the reformation of the juvenile justice system.