Justice Hasfat Abdulrahaman, the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, has released Saraya Silma, a 70-year-old woman who had been held for 10 years at the Yolde-pate Correctional Centre in Yola on witchcraft charges.
Abdulrahaman, who led the committee on the prerogative of mercy, granted pardon to Silma along with 41 other inmates. The correctional facility had initially reviewed 182 awaiting trial cases, with 37 inmates convicted and 24 receiving bail.
Silma claimed that the witchcraft accusations against her were baseless. The Chief Judge also provided her with N12,000 for her return to Cameroon.
The review process included a mix of non-custodial releases, where individuals were assigned community service, and reduced sentences. The facility, which has a capacity of 800, currently holds 886 inmates: 665 awaiting trial, 185 convicted, 10 serving life sentences, and 16 on death row.
Cases considered for review did not include those involving murder, theft, culpable homicide, or kidnapping.
Justice Abdulrahaman advised the released inmates to behave responsibly and view their freedom as a chance for personal reform. Dominic David, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude and commitment to positive change.
