A Second Chance: Adamawa Court Reduces Sentence for Theft of a Measure of Beans

A Second Chance: Adamawa Court Reduces Sentence for Theft of a Measure of Beans

In a case that highlights the role of judicial review in the justice system, a 31-year-old man from Shelleng LGA, Adamawa State, has had his prison sentence significantly reduced.

Iliya Abdullahi was initially convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Shelleng Area Court 2. His crime, contrary to section 277 of the penal code law, was the theft of one measure of beans. Following this conviction, he was sent to prison on November 15, 2025.

However, his case was revisited this Wednesday when the Adamawa State Jail Delivery Committee, headed by the state's Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, conducted proceedings at the Shelleng Satellite Custodial Centre.

As part of the committee's ongoing efforts to decongest prisons and ensure sentences are proportionate, Justice Hafsat reviewed Iliya Abdullahi's case. In an act of judicial discretion, she decided to reduce his two-year sentence to one year imprisonment.

Along with the reduced sentence, the Chief Judge offered words of counsel. She advised the convict to be of good behaviour upon his eventual release and to focus his energy on contributing positively to the development of society.

This case underscores the important work of the Jail Delivery Committee, which not only grants freedom to some inmates but also re-evaluates active sentences to ensure the punishment aligns with the nature of the offence, offering a path to rehabilitation and a second chance.