Twenty-one inmates of the Kirikiri Medium Prisons, Lagos, yesterday breathed the air of freedom on the intervention of the state Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade.
Justice Atilade had visited the prison in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.
Most of the affected lucky inmates were those who have spent more than the period they would have spent in prison if convicted of the crimes for which they are facing trial.
Admonishing the freed inmates, Justice Atilade urged them to keep away from crime and henceforth be of good behaviour.
She reinstated her commitment to an effective justice system delivery where the courts would work efficiently to ensure that the prisons are congested.
“Those of you released should henceforth be of good behaviour. The state government is committed to a crime free Lagos and anyone found committing crime will be adequately arrested and prosecuted,” she said.
Justice Atilade pledged to make her visit to the prison a continuous exercise.
She, however, appealed to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, working with the prisons authority, to ensure that those release are properly re-integrated into the society.
Earlier in his opening remark, Officer-in-Charge of the prison, DCP Kayode Odeyemi, expressed his appreciation to the Chief Judge for exercising her powers in releasing the inmates.
Odeyemi said the effort has further decongested the prison as a good number of the inmates with minor offence has no business been detained in the prison.
A total number of 2, 452 inmates are currently in the prison with 92 convicts and 2,349 on awaiting trial list. There were also 32 detainees and 21 lodgers in the 1, 700 capacity prison.
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