Ekiti Chief Judge grants freedom to 57 awaiting-trial prisoners
By Boye Oyeyemi –
The Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, has ordered the release of 57 awaiting-trial inmates to enable them to reunite with their families.
The decision was taken during his official visit to the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti, where he conducted a routine jail delivery exercise.
The Comptroller of Corrections in the state, CC Oluremi Christy Okuseinde, described the exercise as timely, saying it would ease the burden on inmates and their families.
She disclosed that the facility is severely overcrowded, with 922 inmates housed in a centre built to accommodate only 324 persons.
Okuseinde appealed to relevant authorities to provide additional facilities, urging the Chief Judge and the Attorney General to support the construction of more cells and buildings.
She said improved infrastructure would aid proper inmate classification, effective sentence planning, and rehabilitation.
Justice Ogunmoye reviewed 518 cases involving 511 male and seven female inmates, granting bail to six, discharging nine for lack of evidence, and releasing 42 on health grounds and for minor offences.
He warned the freed inmates to stay away from crime, adding that anyone who reoffends would face the full weight of the law, while commending stakeholders and correctional officials for their cooperation.
