70-year-old Adamawa woman freed after 10 years in detention

The Adamawa State Chief Judge, Justice Hasfat Abdulrahaman, has released a sexagenarian, Saraya Silma, who had spent 10 years awaiting trial at the Yolde-pate Correctional Centre in Yola, the state capital.

Silma, who looked visibly weak, explained that she was accused of witchcraft, an allegation that was unfounded by the complainant.

The Chief Judge, after inquiring about the residence of the accused, gave her the sum of N12,000 to transport herself back to Cameroon.

The Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee, headed by the state Chief Judge, had discharged 32 inmates, bailed 25 and convicted 37 inmates at the Yolde Pate Correctional Centre out of the 182 awaiting trial inmates presented to it.

While some of those discharged were non-custodial, as they were mandated to carry out a committee service such as tidying up of public facilities in their localities, no fewer than 13 cases were reviewed downward during the exercise.

The 800-capacity correctional centre currently houses 886 inmates.

Out of the 886 inmates, 665 are awaiting trial, 185 are convicts as well as 10 are life imprisonment, and 16 are inmates on death row.

Several cases were registered for consideration at the hearing except murder, theft, culpable homicide and kidnapping.

The exercise entertained both awaiting trials and convicted inmates.

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge who congratulated the beneficiaries of the exercise cautioned them against unruly behaviours forthwith.

She urged them to take their freedom as a divine intervention as well as an opportunity for them to mend their ways and lead a worthy lifestyle.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dominic David pledged their commitment to turn over a new leaf.

While appreciating the CJ and her team, David expressed hope for a brighter future for themselves.