The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, on Tuesday freed 22 awaiting-trial inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ado-Ekiti, during his quarterly visitation to the facility.
The Chief Judge said the exercise was in line with his constitutional mandate under Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 12 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State.
A total of 543 cases were reviewed during the visit, comprising 535 male and 8 female inmates. Of the number, 18 inmates were released unconditionally, 3 were granted bail, and 1 was released on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution for having no case to answer.
Justice Ogunmoye thanked stakeholders in the justice sector for their support and said the visitation would be sustained. He promised to return to the centre before the end of the year.
In his welcome address, the Comptroller of the Correctional Centre, CC Alaba Ajeleti, commended the Chief Judge for the decongestion exercise, describing it as “great succour” for inmates. She, however, lamented that the facility was overstretched.
“The centre was originally designed to house 324 inmates but currently accommodates 937 inmates,” Ajeleti said. She urged the Chief Judge and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, to liaise with relevant authorities for the construction of additional cells.
She added that many states now operate more than one custodial facility and commended the Ekiti State Judiciary for exploring non-custodial sentences for minor offences.
Officials present at the visit included judges of the Ekiti State Judiciary, magistrates, the Director of Legal Aid Council, Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, the Director of Public Prosecution, and lawyers from the private and official bars.
The Chief Judge said only inmates with minor offences were considered for release.
Ekiti Chief Judge frees 22 awaiting trial inmates, 543 cases reviewed
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