89 Prison Inmates regain freedom in Ogun

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo  Olopade and her team of Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, have granted amnesty to a total of 89 Awaiting Trial Inmates in the state.

The 89 inmates were granted

amnesty at the end of the Chief Judge and her team’s visit to prison formations across the State.

16 inmates were released from Ilaro Prison, in Ilaro, 14 from the New Abeokuta Prison, Oba and 28 including three juveniles charged with the breach of societal peace from Ibara Prison.

At the Ijebu-Ode Prison 24 were released, while seven were released from Sagamu Prison, bringing the number to 89.

Speaking during the visit, Olopade disclosed that the Jail delivery exercise was not aimed at releasing criminals, but to reduce cases of unlawful detention and awaiting trial inmates, who had been in custody without trial over a period of time, as well as those who had serious health issues among others.

While rounding off the exercise for the 1st quarter of 2017/2018 Legal Year, the Chief Judge commended all stakeholders in the administration of Justice, for their efforts at ensuring that justice was not denied or delayed.

She added that all constraints identified in the course of the exercise would be looked into, with a view to resolving them before the next visit.

She said "There is need for us to regularly visit the Prisons to treat deserving cases, in order to decongest the Prison of Awaiting Trial Inmates (A.T), who have not been tried over a period of time, those with serious health issues among others.’’

She admonished the pardoned inmates to turn over a new leaf, by shunning acts capable of breaching public peace, which could see them back in the prison.