Chief Judge, of Ekiti state, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, Friday , reviewed 518 cases,and freed 57 awaiting trial inmates to reunite with their families.
The beneficiaries were “six inmates, who were granted bail, nine others released on the basis of having no case to answer and 42, who were released unconditionally based on health issues and minor offences.”
The gesture followed Ogunmoye’s official visit to the Federal Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti.
The 518 cases reviewed comprise 511 male and seven female inmates.
The Chief Judge advised the released inmates to “be good ambassadors”, noting that , “the law will catch troublemakers in Ekiti State.”
He thanked stakeholders including the Legal Unit of the Nigerian Police Force, Ekiti State Command; the Director of Public Prosecutions; lawyers from private and official bar, court registrars and others for their contributions.
He also commended the Comptroller of Corrections, Olufemi Okuseinde, “for maintaining a hygienic environment as well as keeping the inmates healthy.”
Speaking, Comptroller, Okuseinde, said the Chief Judge’s visit and gesture were relief to some inmates. He disclosed that the centre was overcrowded, with 922 inmates against a capacity of 324.
She called for expansion of the custodial facility, urging the Chief Judge and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dayo Apata SAN, to use their positions to provide more cells and buildings to enhance proper classification of inmates.
According to her, such will allow for adequate sentence planning, reformation and rehabilitation.
