The Adamawa State Chief Judge, Justice Hasfat Abdulrahaman, has freed a sexagenarian, Saraya Silma, who had spent 10 years awaiting trial at the Yolde-pate Correctional Centre in Yola, over a witchcraft allegation.
AbdulRahman who headed the committee on prerogative of mercy, pardoned Silma and 41 other inmates.
182 prisoners awaiting trial had previously been brought before the detention centre for review; of those, 37 had been found guilty and 24 had been given bail.
Punch claims that Silma clarified that she was falsely accused of practicing witchcraft by the accuser.
Upon asking the accused where she lived, the Chief Judge granted her N12,000 so she may return to Cameroon.
As they were required to perform committee services, such cleaning up public spaces in their communities, some of the released were not in custody; yet, during the exercise, at least 13 cases were reviewed down.
