Nigeria: Kano Pardons 370 Prisoners

All Africa
The Kano State Government pardoned 370 prisoners in the past two years, the state's Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Maliki Kuliya, announced in Kano on Saturday.

Kuliya, who made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano, said the prisoners were released from various prisons after the state's Committee on Prerogative of Mercy recommended the release to government.

He said that most of the prisoners were set free on humanitarian grounds, due to either ill health or old age.

The commissioner said that government had spent over N12 million on the purchase and distribution of some facilities in various prisons in the state.

He said the items, including cups, buckets, plates and other utensils, were provided to improve the living condition of the prisoners.

According to him, the State Government has also purchased and distributed 65 computers and printers to various courts in the state to facilitate their work.

"In this modern age of computer, there is no excuse for anybody to say he or she cannot operate a computer.

"All court clerks should be able to operate computers, hence the decision to phase out manual type writers in our courts.'

Kuliya said the government also promoteed 950 junior workers in addition to harmonising their salary and providing the necessary facilities to ensure higher productivity.