153 Kirikiri Prisons Inmates Freed By Lagos Chief Judge
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No fewer than 153 awaiting trial inmates from the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium prisons, on Wednesday, regained their freedom.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, who freed the inmates, said the amnesty was in line with her statutory duty to ensure that the prisons were not congested.
Among those pardoned were 79 being tried for capital offences, while three of the freed inmates had been standing trial for over 15 years.
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Justice Atilade said, “I advise the pardoned inmates to make the best of this amnesty by not returning to criminal activities.”
The chief judge solicited the support of all relevant stakeholders in the justice system in the effort to decongest the prisons.
Atilade was accompanied on the visit by senior judges from the state high court, officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, some non-governmental organisations and representatives of the police.
The Deputy Controller in charge of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Seye Oduntan, in his remark, thanked the CJ for the amnesty gesture.
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He noted that there were still many inmates who deserved pardon, urging the chief judge to ensure the continuity of the exercise.
