Gombe Chief Judge Orders Release of 85 Inmates to Tackle Prison Overcrowding

In a significant move to reduce congestion in Gombe State’s custodial facilities, Chief Judge Justice Halima Mohammed has ordered the release of 85 inmates from prisons in Gombe and Billiri local government areas.

The action was part of a statewide oversight tour by the state’s Criminal Justice and Inquiry Committee, led by Justice Mohammed, which took place between Tuesday and Friday of last week. The committee visited the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre, as well as those in Billiri, Cham, and Tula.

According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), 42 inmates were released unconditionally while 38 others were granted conditional release from the Gombe facility. At the Billiri centre, three inmates were freed without conditions, and two were released on specific terms.

Justice Mohammed said the visits aimed to identify inmates eligible for release and to evaluate general conditions within the facilities. She also reminded convicted prisoners that only the governor holds constitutional authority to grant pardons.

Encouraging those freed to reform and reintegrate into society, the Chief Judge advised them to become productive citizens and avoid reoffending.

During the exercise, the Controller of Corrections for Gombe State, Salihu Abdullahi, revealed that the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre—originally built in 1919 to accommodate 379 inmates—currently holds 1,076 inmates. Of this figure, 628 are awaiting trial, 344 have been convicted, and 101 are on death row.

Abdullahi described the situation as a violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, stressing the urgent need for reforms and capacity expansion.

The initiative is backed by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which grants chief judges the authority to conduct oversight visits to correctional and detention centres within their jurisdiction.