Wife Of Kebbi State Governor, NBA And FIDA Secure The Release Of 80 Prison Inmates

According to Sabatu Andrew, Media Aide to the Wife of the Kebbi
State Governor, not fewer than Forty two persons today walked free
from prison sentences as beneficiaries of a Prisoners Release,
Rehabilabiton and Reintegration (P-R3) program powered by the Wife
of the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu in collaboration with
the Kebbi State Chapters of Nigerian Bar Association and Federation
of Female Lawyers.

This is the first batch out of a total of 80 first time
offenders that will benefit from the P-R3 program, one of Her
Excellency’s ongoing humanitarian initiatives.

A total of Two Million Naira was paid as fines and compensation.
Those released have all been taught skills,counseled and cautioned
by the Prisons Services, Federation of Female Lawyers FIDA and Law
Enforcement Officers Association. In addition, each man released
was granted N10,000 allowance.

Addressing the inmates, the Vice President of Nigeria Bar
Association Kebbi State Chapter who is also the Chairperson of
FIDA, Barrister Kudirat Shu’aibu said the Prisoners Release,
Rehabilitation and Reintegration program was created to help prison
decongestion and give first time offenders a second chance.

She enjoined the released inmates to be good ambassadors of the
program and feel free to report back to their counselors for
support. She concluded by asking members of the public to join the
program as mentors, donors, and volunteers.

Some of the released inmates who could not hide their joy
thanked Dr Zainab Bagudu for her action describing it as a legacy
that will not be forgotten. They promised to be of good behavior
and engage in profitable ventures.

Earlier in the day, the State Comptroller of Prisons Alhaji Sani
Adamu Patiskum speaking to Government House correspondents
applauded the ongoing support of Governor Bagudu to the state
command.

The Comptroller explained that President Muhammadu Buhari has
earlier set up prisons decongetion committee which has so far
released over One Hundred inmates across prisons in Kebbi
state.

He said the efforts by Dr Zainab Bagudu will no doubt compliment
that of the Federal Government’s.

EFCC is Not Probing Outgoing APC Governors Amosu,
Okocha, Yari

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC has been drawn to a lead story of Sunday Punch Newspaper of
March 31, 2019, titled: “EFCC raises teams to quiz Amosun, Okocha,
Yari as immunity ends”.

The newspapers had claimed that ahead of May 29, 2019, handover
date to newly elected states helmsmen, the Commission has set up
teams to probe some governors accused of perpetuating acts of
corruption.

It is instructive to note that the reporter did not give the
composition and terms of reference of the purported teams set up by
the EFCC.

The report is a figment of the imagination of the reporter as
everything about the setting of the teams ended with the first
paragraph without details of such teams being set up.

Again, the story is not true, as the EFCC does not go after
anybody, including ex-governors on speculative ground.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission only act after the
investigators have done a thorough job on any individual or firm
involved in corruption related cases.

The Commission wants to advise our stakeholders, including our
friends in the media to be circumspect and verify their stories
before going to press.

Members of the public are therefore advise to disregard the
story as no team has been set up against any former governor.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity