Number Of Freed Inmates Rises To 184 In Lagos As CJ Releases 31 More

 Governor Ambode with Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade 

Yesterday, we reported that Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, the Chief Judge of Lagos State released 153 inmates from the Kirikiri Makimum and Minimum Prisons, in a bid to decongest the prisons. Read here if you missed.

In continuation of her efforts to reduce the population of awaiting trial inmates in custody, Justice Atilade has released another 31 inmates from the Ikoyi prisons, reports The Guardian.

According to her, she’s acting on the prerogative power vested in her, pursuant to section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody ‎Special Provision Act Cap C40, 2007 Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Justice while addressing the freed inmates said: “Those of you that have been released today should see this as an opportunity for a new beginning. You must henceforth be of good behaviour and never return to crime.”

Stating that her administration will no longer tolerate unnecessary delay of cases, the CJ said, “The purpose of carrying this exercise is to achieve a reduction of the awaiting trial population in the prisons. Situations where cases are allowed to unnecessarily drag on in court, will no longer be tolerated.”

She also urged the state Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), to always provide the Prison Decongestion Committee detailed information about the awaiting trial inmates adding that mechanisms should be developed where case files of inmates can be easily accessed and reviewed by the committee.