The Kaduna State Government has commenced the distribution of N100,000 grants to each of the 97 former inmates who recently received state pardons from Governor Uba Sani, as part of efforts to support their return to society and discourage a return to crime.
The payments were made on Friday at the Kaduna Medium Security Custodial Centre, fulfilling a commitment made by the governor after granting the inmates clemency on June 12 in commemoration of Democracy Day.
The beneficiaries regained their freedom through the governor’s constitutional prerogative of mercy. In addition to granting them pardon, the state government also paid the court fines of some inmates to secure their release.
Speaking during the disbursement, the Assistant Controller of the custodial centre, Dalhat Ibrahim, said the financial support would strengthen the rehabilitation process by giving the beneficiaries an opportunity to start afresh.
“By paying the fine of the inmates and giving them financial assistance, this will encourage them to go and do what they are supposed to do. They are now set to be reintegrated into society,” he said.
Ibrahim noted that the initiative aligns with the correctional service’s objectives of reforming, rehabilitating and successfully reintegrating former inmates into their communities.
He advised the beneficiaries to invest the money in legitimate businesses instead of returning to criminal activities.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Protocol, Mohammed Suleiman, described the grant disbursement as the concluding stage of the clemency programme.
“We are here as part of the last leg of the clemency granted some inmates on June 12.
“We are fulfilling the Governor’s promise by extending financial support of N100,000 each to the freed inmates,” Suleiman said.
He urged the former inmates to remain responsible citizens and avoid actions that could lead them back into conflict with the law.
One of the beneficiaries, Chuks Solomon from Ebonyi State, expressed appreciation to the governor, saying the grant would enable many of the recipients to establish small businesses and rebuild their lives.
Another beneficiary, Abubakar Umar, also thanked the Kaduna State Government, describing the support as a fresh opportunity to begin a new chapter.
The empowerment programme is part of Kaduna State’s broader criminal justice reform agenda, which seeks to reduce congestion in correctional facilities, promote restorative justice and ease the successful reintegration of former offenders into society.