The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has ordered the transfer of twelve inmates awaiting trials at the Bida medium security Custodial Centre back to Newbussa to face their trial.
Justice Halima Abdulmalik gave the order during her annual visit to the Bida Security Medium Correctional Custody on Wednesday ,the 25th February,2026.
The twelve inmates were standing trial on various criminal charges ranging from culpable homicides and other heinous crimes which they were ordered to be remanded by a Chief Magistrate in Newbussa.
However, they were remanded on the order of the Newbussa Magistrate Court but as a result of the insecurity bedeveling the Community they were transfered to Bida Security medium correctional Custody.
The Chief Judge directed the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP), in the Ministry of Justice Nuraini Baba Usman Esq, to facilitate their transfer to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.
It was observed that most of inmates on awaiting trials at Bida Medium Correctional Custody were transfered from Newbussa as a result of prevailing security challenges in the area.
The Director of Public Prosecution told the Chief Judge that his office facilitated the transfer of the inmates to Bida Correctional centre due to the increasing rates of armed Banditry activities that has hitherto bedeveling Borgu community in recent times.
Findings revealed that some of the inmates were granted bail but they could not meet the bail condition as a result of the stringent nature of the bail condition which made them to be incarcerated in the custody.
During the Chief Judge visit to the custodial Centre, she reviwied some case of inmates on awaiting trials on minor offences and ordered for their summary trial and to be convicted with lesser conviction
Speaking with Journalists shortly after the visit the Chief Registrar of the Niger State High Court Hajiya Amina Laminde Musa Saidu, stated that the visit was carried out by the Chief Judge as part of the perogative of mercy to the inmates.
She explained that the Chief Judge visit to the correctional facilities across the state was aimed at the decongesting the correctional facilities to bring succour to the inmates particularly those on awaiting trials without been taken to court for trial.
Hajiya Amina Laminde Musa noted that the Chief Judge has taken it as an annual routine to embarked on visiting the correctional facilities “ so that the inmates will breath the air of freedom and also bring relief to the inmates.
Earlier the state Contrroler of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NIS), Mr. Ponyak Nandang Esq applaudaed the Chief Judge for visiting the Bida Medium Security Correctional Custody.
He stated that her visit to the Correctional facilities has helped in decongesting the centre adding that the inmates will now have a sense of belonging as result of the visit.
The Bida Medium Security Correctional Custody has a total of Seventy four inmates out of which fourty three are already convicts while the remaining thirty one are on awaiting trials
Mean while Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, pandoned two convicts, Umar Sanda and Abdullahi Isah as a result of their good conduct while serving their jail term.
