IN furtherance of the exercise of his power of release from custody as provided in Chapter 40, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Oyo state, the Chief Judge of Oyo state, Justice Munta Abimbola, on Wednesday released 44 awaiting trial inmates from the Medium Security Prisoners, Abolongo, Oyo.
The program which was the conclusion of the two-day exercise commenced on Tuesday at the Agodi prisons in Ibadan with the vision of decongesting the already overstretched prison and ensure that justice is seen to have been manifestly done.
Speaking during the exercise, Justice Abimbola stated that there is no argument that there is congestion in the prison, adding that his visit is in line with statutory provision for release of the inmate.
“The conclusion is that there is congestion in the prison and that is why we are here. The administration of criminal justice provides for decongestion of prison as a statutory responsibility. We have a statutory duty under the constitution to frequently decongest the prison.
“The exercise is for those unlawfully arrested or have stayed behind bars longer than the period they should have stayed if convicted; those whose trial has been unduly delayed or those whose condition requires being shown mercy in line with the provision of the law,” Justice Abimbola stated.
The Abolongo prison was designed to accommodate 160 inmates but on Wednesday morning it had an open house of 455 inmates; 379 awaiting trial and 76 convicted inmates.
The list for consideration was 370 out of which 39 were released for unreasonable delay in the trial, 3 released because their charges had been struck out and two on the compassionate ground due to ill health
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