Lagos Chief Judge sets 119 prison inmates free

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, on Wednesday, released 119 awaiting-trial inmates from Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons, Lagos.

The inmates, who have been awaiting trial for as long as 13 years, included 99 from medium prisons and 20 from maximum prisons with offences ranging from capital to minor.

Justice Phillips said the visit was aimed at decongesting the prisons and in exercise of the Chief Judge’s powers under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act, CAP C40, 2007, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Earlier, the chief judge had released 279 inmates from the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons and Ikoyi prisons last year.

Justice Phillips, who was accompanied by senior members of the judiciary, including judges and the Chief Registrar, admonished the freed inmates to be of good behaviour.

“Since I was sworn in, I had come to the maximum prison two times and visited the medium prisons on three occasions. All I am doing is my statutory role as the CJ. But I am disappointed that despite all efforts to decongest the prisons, the figures keep rising.

“For those who are being released today, never again should you come here. When you leave, always ensure that you are of good behaviour. Don’t put me to shame because when you keep coming here, you will only be making mockery of our visits here,” Justice Phillips said.

Lagos State Controller, Catherine Ononye, said it was quite unfortunate that the medium prison capacity, which is meant to accommodate 835 inmates, had been stretched, as it now plays host to 2,555 inmates. She said 2,457 of the populace were awaiting trial, while 98 have so far being convicted.