COWA settles N.3m fine to free 19 inmates in Sokoto

Inmates

By Habibu Harisu

Sokoto, March 12, 2020 (NAN) The Correctional Officers Wives Association (COWA) on Thursday paid N309,000 as fines to free 19 inmates.

The inmates, who were convicted on lighter offences, are serving various jail terms at the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Sokoto.

The national president of COWA, Hajia Gwamma Jafar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  that inmates from correctional facilities at Gwadabawa, Wurno and Tambuwal Local Government Areas benefited from the gesture.

Jafar, who spoke through the Sokoto State Chairperson, Hajia Sa’adatu Idris, said  that the gesture was part of the association’s efforts to assist in remoulding people’s characters.

She charged the beneficiaries to consider their plights as part of their destiny and advised them to always shun all forms of crimes but to engage in productive means of livelihood.

She said COWA had conducted similar gestures in other states adding that it was going to be a continuous exercise.

She counselled people, especially youths, to refrain from crimes and urged them to embrace the various employment opportunities provided by governments  and corporate organisations.

Malama Hauwa Umaru,who spoke on behalf of the inmates,thanked the association for the gesture and promised that the beneficiaries would not engage in any form of criminality again.

Umaru urged  other corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate COWA in supporting inmates.

She said that many of them were serving various jail terms because they had no financial  means to settle their fines.

NAN reports that the  fines paid by COWA  range from N7,500 to N35,000. (NAN)

HMH/AIB/PAD

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Peter Dada