Akinwale Akintunde
Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, yesterday, granted amnesty to 11 inmates of the Badadry Prisons.
Justice Atilade said the amnesty granted them was in tandem with the resolution of the judiciary to decongest prisons nationwide.
The 11 freed inmates were among the 174 inmates whose names were sent to the Lagos State Prisons Decongestion Committee headed by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, for a review of their cases.
While setting the inmates free, the Chief Judge admonished them to be of good behaviour and to “go and sin no more.”
“Having been informed by the prison officials of the offences for which you have been in prison for a period longer than three months, I pronounce, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are all hereby released from custody this November 3, 2016.
“This is without prejudice to any charge that may be preferred against you at a later date; I, therefore, enjoin you to turn a new leaf and go and sin no more.
The chief judge noted that this was her first visit to the Badagry Prisons since her appointment as Lagos Chief Judge, emphasised that her goals is to ensure a reduction in the number of awaiting trial inmates across the state.
She thanked various stakeholders like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Directorate of Public Prosecution, Panti, Office of the Public Defendant (OPD), Prisons Decongestion Committee and numerous non-governmental organisations that have worked tirelessly to ensure the freedom of the inmates.
Earlier in his welcome address, Deputy Comptroller of Badagry Prisons, Tinuoye Olumide Timothy thanked the Chief Judge for her kind gesture.
Tinuoye however pleaded with the chief judge for logistic assistance as the prison currently uses only one vehicle to convey inmates to eight court locations across the state.
He also stated that the prison with capacity for 160 inmates presently has 370 inmates.
Out of the 370 inmates, Tinouye said 207 have been convicted while 163 are awaiting trial.
