The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, has ordered the release of 79 inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Ibadan.
Those freed include individuals who had been awaiting trial for bailable and non-capital offences for over four months, as well as some awaiting trial for capital offences who had spent more than two years in custody. Others battling severe illnesses were also discharged.
This marks the third time this year the Chief Judge is carrying out this exercise aimed at decongesting the correctional centre and giving inmates a chance at a new beginning.
Justice Ladiran Akintola, who represented the Chief Judge, said that her responsibilities include supervising the Correctional Centre to review deserving cases of people, to ensure that it is not congested beyond reasonable limits.
He stated that attending to cases is to assist the officers and men of the Correctional Centre in reducing the burden on the limited facility and resources.
Noting that some of those brought to courts concerning cases are always sent to Correctional Centres, Justice Akintola said it was the reason behind the Chief Judge’s regular coming to look at the Agodi Custodial Centre where the facility does not have enough space for its inmates.
He also noted the likelihood of spreading infectious diseases among the inmates because of overcrowding.
“The need for us to visit these facilities can never be overemphasised because it is a way to assist the Correctional Officers to manage the responsibilities entrusted to them,” he remarked.
Addressing the released inmates, Justice Akintola admonished them that the discomforts, strains they had experienced with the four walls of the Correctional Centre were enough to correct their rascality.
He also encouraged them to live within their means and look up to their Maker who created them for a purpose.
“I want to charge you today to turn a new leaf. Don’t go back to the ways of crime. Each of you has been endowed with peculiar talents. All you need to do is discover those strengths and build on them.
“There is nothing to gain from crime. Make up your mind not to take the mercy you obtained today for granted,” Justice Akintola advised the freed inmates.
In his remarks, the Officer-in-charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Assistant Controller Abdulrahman Olayiwola, who noted that it was the third time the exercise was carried out in the year, enjoined the released inmates not to waste the slots they got by returning to crime.
