Minister forfeits salary to aid inmates release - The Nation Nigeria

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja 

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, has forfeited her May salary to secure the release of five inmates who could not pay their fines at the Kuje Correctional facility.

The minister, who made the donation while felicitating with the inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Sallah day, said the donation would further go a long way to decongest the Correctional Service already overcrowded with inmates in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Aliyu assured the inmates that the FCT Administration would take further legal steps to see to the decongestion of the Kuje Correctional Service.

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She said, “I will not only support the reduction, but I will also lend my voice in the reduction of prison inmates by picking up some bills. I will carry out the campaign and speak to well-meaning Nigerians because you cannot leave the burden of good governance to government alone.

“We know that some of you are awaiting trial, we know that some have not been tried at all, but provided there is law, we will not be lawless. We will go by the law and get in well meaning Nigerians and pay up the fines. This will also go a long way to reduce the number besides government pronouncements.”