Ogun Chief Judge Pardons 89 Prison Inmates To Decongest Prisons

FILE PHOTO: A Nigerian prison

Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, on Friday, granted pardon to 89 inmates as part of efforts to decongest prisons in the state.

Olopade pardoned the inmates during her three-day tour of prison formations at Ibara and Oba in Abeokuta, as well as those in Ilaro, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode.

The tour was to round off 1st quarter of 2017/2018 Legal Year.

A total of 14 inmates were released from Oba Prison, 28 in Ibara, 16 in Ilaro, seven in Sagamu, while 24 inmates were set free from Ijebu-Ode prison.

The chief judge said the exercise was not aimed at releasing criminals but to reduce cases of unlawful detention and awaiting trial inmates.

She said there were many inmates on detention and in custody without trial over a long period of time, as well as those who had serious health issues, among others, noting that such cases were reviewed and those who ought not to be in prison were considered for pardon.

She commended stakeholders in the Administration of Justice for efforts in ensuring justice was not denied or delayed.

She added that constraints identified during the three-day tour would be looked into, with a view to resolving the problems before the next visit.

She said “there is need for us to regularly visit prisons to treat deserving cases and to decongest the facilities of Awaiting Trial Inmates, those who have not been tried over a period of time, and those with serious health issues, among others.

She, therefore, admonished the freed inmates to make the best use of the amnesty by shunning criminal activities capable of bringing them back to prison.

Mr Kalowole Olatunde, the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Ibara Prisons, commended the chief judge for freeing some of the inmates and called for frequent visits.

- Punch