For 22 prisoners of Kirikiri Medium Security Prisons in Lagos, the saying that good things come during Christmas became a reality in December last year.
On that day, they were granted freedom by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande.
Nineteen men and three women were granted reprieve and the rationale behind their freedom was that they had been in custody for periods longer than the time they would have spent in prison, if convicted of their alleged offences.
As expected, the prisoners were visibly happy when they came out in turns to formally receive their pardon from the chief judge.
The prisoners were granted amnesty, as part of activities lined up to mark the 2010 Annual Law Week of the Ikorodu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Their release is in line with the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2004, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, which empower a state’s chief judge to grant freedom to prison inmates.
Speaking at the Freedom Chapel, where the inmates were set free, Akande said the gesture was aimed at decongesting the prison, as part of efforts to alleviate the plight of inmates.
Akande noted that some of the inmates had been remanded in prison custody for minor offences or because they could not meet their bail conditions.
Akande, nonetheless, stressed the need for the amendment of some sections of the law in order to remove stringent bail conditions set for minor offences.
The chief judge said that some limitations in the country’s prison administration had to do with the fact that prisons’ establishment and management belonged to the exclusive list of the Federal Government.
The Deputy Controller of Prisons,Aremu Tajudeen, said the prison had 98 convicts and 1,945 awaiting-trial male inmates, making a total 2,043 inmates.
Tajudeen said This is a self-explanatory situation of what obtains in our justice administration system.
Tajudeen stressed that the prison visitation was very apt because it provided an opportunity for judges, lawyers and prison officials to deliberate on how to reform prison administration.
On his part, Kazeem Adebanjo, the Ikorodu Branch Chairman of NBA, called for the liberalisation of bail conditions which, he said, were currently counterproductive to justice administration.
One of the freed prisoners, Kayode, who claimed to be a member of O’odua Peoples Congress, a socio-cultural group, said he was arrested for being in possession of a locally made gun.
Kayode, who had been in prison for six years awaiting trial, thanked the chief judge, the prison authorities, the NBA and the Citizens Rights Centre for their contributions to efforts to set the inmates free.
Besides, 20-year-old Sadiat said that she was arrested after a police raid at a neighbourhood in Oshodi, adding that she had been detained for almost two months at the female wing of the prison.
One of the freed inmates, Elizabeth, broke down in tears, moments after she was granted freedom by the chief judge. The hapless woman, a mother of two, had been in prison custody for four months for trying to separate two neighbours engaged in a brawl.
She said she was later arrested by the police and charged to court for assault.
Concerned observers commend the chief judge for the release of the 22 inmates and note that they would have continued to rot in jail for allegedly committing minor or bailable offences.
They say that the episode once again foregrounds the need to ensure effective and quick administration of justice in the nation’s judicial system.
The observers say that the country’s legal and judicial systems should be overhauled, while reviewing laws relating to bail conditions to enhance the administration of justice in the country.
On that day, they were granted freedom by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande.
Nineteen men and three women were granted reprieve and the rationale behind their freedom was that they had been in custody for periods longer than the time they would have spent in prison, if convicted of their alleged offences.
As expected, the prisoners were visibly happy when they came out in turns to formally receive their pardon from the chief judge.
The prisoners were granted amnesty, as part of activities lined up to mark the 2010 Annual Law Week of the Ikorodu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Their release is in line with the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2004, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, which empower a state’s chief judge to grant freedom to prison inmates.
Speaking at the Freedom Chapel, where the inmates were set free, Akande said the gesture was aimed at decongesting the prison, as part of efforts to alleviate the plight of inmates.
Akande noted that some of the inmates had been remanded in prison custody for minor offences or because they could not meet their bail conditions.
Akande, nonetheless, stressed the need for the amendment of some sections of the law in order to remove stringent bail conditions set for minor offences.
The chief judge said that some limitations in the country’s prison administration had to do with the fact that prisons’ establishment and management belonged to the exclusive list of the Federal Government.
The Deputy Controller of Prisons,Aremu Tajudeen, said the prison had 98 convicts and 1,945 awaiting-trial male inmates, making a total 2,043 inmates.
Tajudeen said This is a self-explanatory situation of what obtains in our justice administration system.
Tajudeen stressed that the prison visitation was very apt because it provided an opportunity for judges, lawyers and prison officials to deliberate on how to reform prison administration.
On his part, Kazeem Adebanjo, the Ikorodu Branch Chairman of NBA, called for the liberalisation of bail conditions which, he said, were currently counterproductive to justice administration.
One of the freed prisoners, Kayode, who claimed to be a member of O’odua Peoples Congress, a socio-cultural group, said he was arrested for being in possession of a locally made gun.
Kayode, who had been in prison for six years awaiting trial, thanked the chief judge, the prison authorities, the NBA and the Citizens Rights Centre for their contributions to efforts to set the inmates free.
Besides, 20-year-old Sadiat said that she was arrested after a police raid at a neighbourhood in Oshodi, adding that she had been detained for almost two months at the female wing of the prison.
One of the freed inmates, Elizabeth, broke down in tears, moments after she was granted freedom by the chief judge. The hapless woman, a mother of two, had been in prison custody for four months for trying to separate two neighbours engaged in a brawl.
She said she was later arrested by the police and charged to court for assault.
Concerned observers commend the chief judge for the release of the 22 inmates and note that they would have continued to rot in jail for allegedly committing minor or bailable offences.
They say that the episode once again foregrounds the need to ensure effective and quick administration of justice in the nation’s judicial system.
The observers say that the country’s legal and judicial systems should be overhauled, while reviewing laws relating to bail conditions to enhance the administration of justice in the country.
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