Lagos Chief Judge frees 119 prison inmates
(Nigeria) The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips,
on Wednesday set free no fewer than 119 inmates from Kirikiri Medium and
Maximum Security Prisons in Lagos.
``Go and sin no more,’’Phillips told the inmates during a
visit.
The visit was part of activities marking the 2013/2014 Legal
Year of the state judiciary.
Twenty inmates were released from the maximum prisons, while
99 were set free at the medium prisons.
She said the exercise was aimed at decongesting the prisons
of inmates particularly those who had been awaiting trial for several years.
``This is my third visit to Kirikiri since I was sworn in as
chief judge on June 14, 2012.
``I must say that despite my routine visits, the figures of
inmates keep rising. So, for those of you who are fortunate to be on the roll
today, I admonish you to refrain from crimes. It will indeed be so painful that
after your release you are again found wanting and brought back here.
``It will be a mockery on me and other members of the
judiciary here present if you are seen here again, ’’Phillips said.
Earlier, the Controller of Prisons, Mrs Catherine Ononye,
expressed gratitude to Phillips for the gesture, saying the exercise will
reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates.
Ononye, who bemoaned the poor capacity of the prisons, said
the facility was meant for prisoners and not those awaiting trial.
``There are 2,554 inmates in the medium prisons with
capacity for only 835. And out of this number, more than 2,100 are awaiting
trial. At the maximum prisons, there are
748 inmates of which 400 are awaiting trial.
``This makes the visit of the chief judge important as the
prison is meant for prisoners, and not those awaiting trial, ’’ she said.
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