(JUST IN) 2023 PRISON DECONGESTION: LAGOS CJ RELEASES 30 INMATES FROM 3 CORRECTIONAL CENTRES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has released 30 inmates from 3 correctional centers, including the Borstal Institute, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, where juvenile offenders are remanded and given educational and vocational training to rehabilitate and reform them before re-integration into the society.

The inmates were pardoned during an open court session presided over by Alogba at the premises of Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Ogba.

This according to the Alogba, is in recognition of the constitutional rights of the Chief judge of Lagos State, through the provision of section 1(1) of the criminal justice release from custody Act, Cap C40, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2007, S 377(c) of the administration of criminal justice (amendment) law 2021, and other extant laws.

Alogba also mentioned that, individuals who stayed longer than they would have after being found guilty and whose trials had stagnated were the only ones granted amnesty while claiming that the exercise was the product of a systemic flaw brought on by auxiliary circumstances rather than by the judiciary.

The committee that looked into the cases of those released was however, praised by the chief justice for its comprehensive investigation.

He said, “I am not a Father Christmas; the exercise we are witnessing today is a self-cleansing exercise as provided for in the law.

“It is guided by relevant laws upon fulfillment of requisites,”

“Since it is a matter required by law, we must be diligent in carrying out the exercise.

” The members of the committee have done excellently.

“I insisted on several occasions that the committee goes through due process, which they have done, and I assure you all that they will continue to go through due process.”

The 30 released and 6 rejected inmates were taken from kirikiri correctional center, ikoyi correctional center and borstal institute, Adigbe Abeokuta , Ogun State

The chief judge ordered that six of the remaining 10 inmates should be returned back to prison

Meanwhile, Ben Freedman, the controller of the Nigerian Correctional service, Lagos State command, represented by comfort Obiosio, urged the Chief Judge to increase the number of inmates that will be subsequently released, adding that the Correctional facilities in Lagos, currently has almost 9000 inmates.

“We have almost 9,000 locked up in Lagos, and we hope the CJ uses his good offices to free those qualified and decongest the facilities,” he said.

Also speaking, was the Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara, who said that the Nigeria Police was a partner in justice administration.

“We cannot continue to keep the 9,000 inmates as it is highly unbearable.

“Those who are about to get freedom today must have learned one or two lessons.

“Being in correctional centres does not mean you cannot be re-integrated back to the society.

“The police will continue to be diligent in their investigation in order to help with the decongestion,” Ayilara said

Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, however, urged the ex-convicts to be more productive in the society to erase any iota of stigmatization in the society.