Oyo CJ frees 32 inmates from Agodi Correctional Centre

Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, on Wednesday, freed Thirty two inmates of the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. 

The Chief Judge was represented by Justice Akinniyi Ladiran Akintola, Justice M.I. Sule, and Justice O.A. Adetujoye.

Of the 32 freed inmates, 14 were on the sick list with various chronic and contagious diseases, while the remaining 18 had bailable cases but were either awaiting trial or had their complainants withdraw from pursuing the matter.

A total of 175 inmates were presented on the lists slated for consideration.

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Speaking on behalf of the Chief Judge, Justice Akintola said that releasing some inmates is a statutory responsibility of the office of the Chief Judge of the state, which makes periodic visits to custodial centres to review deserving cases of individuals who have been held in custody for longer than is considered reasonable.

He added that this action is also in line with the Chief Judge’s responsibility to help decongest the custodial facilities.

He further stated that correspondence from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has drawn the judiciary’s attention to the congestion in correctional facilities nationwide, and an appeal has been made for urgent measures to alleviate the problem.

Justice Akintola noted an increase in the number of crimes committed daily, attributing this to geometric population growth, while also highlighting the limited facilities available for inmates at custodial centres.

“One of the objectives of paying regular visits to the correctional centres is to assist the Comptroller and his officers in reducing the burden,” he added, noting that lists of deserving cases have been compiled.

He enlisted the support and cooperation not only of the Director of Public Prosecutions and his department’s officers, but also of “their Honours, the Magistrates, and the presidents of the Grade A Customary Courts, to help us provide information that will assist us in reaching a just determination of the various cases presented before us.”

He pleaded with every stakeholder involved to cooperate so that the assignment can be completed as quickly as possible.

In his remarks, the Officer-in-charge of Agodi Correctional Centre, Dr. Abdulrahman Olayiwola, an Assistant Comptroller, argued that civil cases should be handled separately from criminal cases, stating that merging them adversely affects the correctional facilities.

“We have a right to receive conviction warrants. There is no civil warrant, but there are issues of compensation and restitution. We have many inmates who have served their sentences and were supposed to be released, but compensation and restitution are holding them back,” he disclosed.

After the release of the 32 inmates, Justice Akintola admonished them not to revert to crime, reminding them that they had been granted mercy.

He warned that they might not be so fortunate next time if they break their promise of good behavior and return to criminal activities.

The Comptroller of Agodi Correctional Centre, Babafemi Jaiyeoba, represented by Assistant Comptroller Sarah Olorunduro, expressed appreciation to the Chief Judge for releasing the 32 inmates.

Saying, “What had been hoped for has finally come,” the Comptroller appealed for the continuation of such efforts to decongest the custodial centre.

Tribune Online learnt that the Agodi Custodial Centre has a capacity for 390 inmates, but as of Wednesday, it was holding over a thousand inmates, including those already convicted and those awaiting trial.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE