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State Governments Can Offset, Waive Minor Fines Owed By Inmates – Aregbesola

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The Federal Government has revealed that state governors can offset or grant waivers to inmates with fines less than N1 million.

This is according to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, during the commissioning of a 20-bed space medical facility at Port Harcourt maximum security custodial centre.

Aregbesola said while the Federal Government is finding long time solutions to the challenge of prison decongestion, the State Government can in the meantime provide basic supports, like offsetting the meager fines and debts, building court houses at the correctional services premises or try the defendants virtually from the Correctional Centres for speedy determination of cases.

He held that some of the inmates are held behind bars for minor offences that can be easily waved by the states.

The Minister further stated that he recently asked the comptroller of Correctional centres to compile the list of inmates whose reason for incarceration is a fine or a debt not more than one million naira that are meant to be paid to the state governments.

According to him, about 5,000 inmates where shortlisted under this category and most of them have stayed long enough in the care of the Federal Government to consume foods worth more than they are supposed to pay as fines and debt to the states.

According to him, in Rivers State, there are about 22 of such inmates and the 22 of them are collectively owing a little above 3million naira, an amount he thinks the State Government can offset or wave for the inmates to be freed.

The minister noted that apart from reducing the financial burden on the Federal Government, such decisions by the state will also help in decongesting the correctional centres.

He said for instance, the Maximum facility in Port Harcourt was built 1,800 inmates, but as of May 12, 2023 the centre was holding 3,100 inmates.

While emphasizing that the situation in Port Harcourt is a reflection of the cases in most of the facilities across the country, the minister said Additionally, the Federal Government is building 6 mega facilities with at least 3,000 capacity in the six geopolitical zones to further decongest the existing facilities.

The one for the South-South is located in Bori in Khana Local Government Area of the Ogoni ethnic group in Rivers State.

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President Tinubu Expresses Sorrow over IMAM Abubakar’s Death

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Says he was a courageous servant of God

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed sorrow at the passing of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, the Chief Imam of Nghar village in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, who passed away at 92.

The late Imam Abubakar shot into national and international prominence for hiding over 200 Christians in 2018, during the communal strife which ravaged Plateau State.

President Tinubu described the late Imam as an extraordinary religious leader, whose lifetime represented a striking testament to faith, courage and a staunch belief in the sacredness of human life.

“At such a time when tribal and religious tendencies seemed to overwhelm reason, Imam Abubakar stood firmly on the side of peace, benevolence and conscience,” President Tinubu remarked.

“Mindless of the enormous risk to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love as opposed to hatred and embrace rather than rejection.

His heroic feat underlines the essence of true faith, resonating louder than sermons in a salient message to the world at large. Imam Abubakar is a worthy example of a better human we should all aspire to be,” the President said.

“His act of uncommon bravery did not go unnoticed, as he received local and international honours that celebrated his commitment to coexistence among people with diverse orientations.”

I urge religious and community leaders to imbibe and preach the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful togetherness as expounded in the life of Imam Abubakar.

“May the Almighty grant Imam Abubakar eternal rest and reward him for his good deeds and courage,” the President said. ‎

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IMAM who Savef 262 Christians Abubakar Abdullahi Dies in Jos @ 90

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The Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state, who Famously Shielded 262 Christians during a Violent Communal attack has died at the age of 90.

Saleh Abubakar son of the deceased Confirmed the death to arise news in Jos said the Cleric Passed away on Thursday night at plateau specialist hospital in Jos.

He revealed that his father died tens earlier after being admitted into the hospital, following Complications linked to a heart Condition that have affected his heart for Some time.

He was initiately admitted diagnosed with a heart problem and had being on check ups all the time and since then his health had not been Stable following the diagnoses.

Imam Abdullahi is Survived by 19 Children made up of 12 boys and 7 girls.In June 2018, during a faith based Clashes that Swept through 10 Villages in Barkin Ladi Local government area of plateau state, the late imam hid 262

Christians in a mosque and his private home untill the Violence Subsided, preventing them from being killed.

His actions earned him both local and international recognition across globe.End

Ctedit: PUNCH

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Rivers Lawmakers Insist on Investigating Fubara, Deputy

The Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, a seven man panel each have been constituted to investigate governor Fubara and his deputy.

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Twenty -five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) said that there is no going back on investigating Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, for alleged gross misconducts.

The members re-stated this at Friday’s plenary in the temporary hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly in their Legislative quarters.

The Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, a seven man panel each have been constituted to investigate governor Fubara and his deputy.

He also said that the Chief judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi is to be immediately notified about the resolution of the House.

The order paper of the house in Friday’s sitting has only two items which include investigating governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

Meanwhile,the house has adjourned plenary till January 27.

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