21 inmates at the Kirikiri Medium Prisons in Lagos State who have been awaiting trial on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 regained their freedom.
This followed a visit by the state Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade.
As at the filling of this report, before the release of the 21 inmates, the Kirikiri Medium Prisons, housed a total of 2,452 against a holding capacity if 1,700 prisoners.
The number of inmates convicted were 92 inmates as against 2,349 who are still awaiting trial.
The larger number of those who were freed on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 were in the category of inmates who had been behind bars, while awaiting the final verdict but had stayed longer than the term prescribed in law for their various alleged offences.
Pursuant to Section (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007, the Lagos Chief Judge discharged the, stating that they “go and sin no more”.
“Those of you released should henceforth be of good behaviour.
“The state government is committed to a crime free lagos andanyone found committing crime will be adequately arrested and prosecuted,” Justice Atilade adjudged.
Justice Atilade appealed to Non-Governmental Organisation and other stakeholders working with the prisons authorities to ensure that those released on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 were properly re-oriented into the society.
He mentioned that her visit to the prison to release the inmates would be repeated often
She reiterated her commitment to achieving a system of justice administration will work efficiently and de-congestion of the prisons.
The Officer-in-Charge of the prison, Deputy Controller of Prisons, Kayode Odeyemi expressed his gratitude to Justice Atilade over his exercising the powers bestowed on her by law to release the overdue inmates.
Odeyemi, stated the uttermost point of justification was the fast that most of the inmates were in prison for minor offences which would have attracted long prison terms in convicted.
“My lord, today the criminal justice system of Lagos State has taken a neap in seeing that justice is done to all as a result of your visit to the prison because of good number of inmates with minor offences will be let off the hook,” Odeymi stated
The state judiciary received an appeal from the DCP and the executive to assist the prison authorities by making available trucks and buses to ease the challenge of conveying inmates to court for their trials.
