70-YEAR-OLD ADAMAWA WOMAN REGAINS FREEDOM AFTER 10 YEARS IN DETENTION

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Saraya Silma, a sexagenarian, was freed by Adamawa State Chief Judge Justice Hasfat Abdulrahaman after she had been detained for ten years at the Yolde-pate Correctional Centre in Yola, the state capital, pending trial.

With a palpably weak expression, Silma clarified that the complainant had falsely accused her of playing the witch.

Upon asking the accused where she lived, the Chief Judge granted her N12,000 so she may return to Cameroon.

Of the 182 prisoners submitted to the Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee for awaiting trial, 32 had been released from custody, 25 had been granted bail, and 37 had been found guilty. The committee was chaired by the state chief judge.

As they were required to perform committee services, such as cleaning up public spaces in their communities, some of the released were not in custody; yet, during the exercise, at least 13 cases were reviewed down.

There are now 886 prisoners housed in the 800-capacity correctional centre.

185 of the 886 prisoners are convicted felons, 10 are serving life sentences, 16 are on death row, and 665 are awaiting trial.

A number of instances, excluding murder, theft, culpable homicide, and kidnapping, were registered for consideration during the hearing.

Both convicted and awaiting trial offenders participated in the activity.

The Chief Judge, who had earlier commended the exercise’s beneficiaries, issued a warning to them not to engage in disruptive activity going forward.

She persuaded them to see their release as a gift from God, a chance to turn from their wrongdoings and live virtuous lives.

Dominic David promised the beneficiaries that they would turn a new page in their lives.

David expressed gratitude to CJ and her colleagues and expressed optimism that they will have a better future together.