The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, on Thursday ordered the release of 22 awaiting trial inmates during a jail delivery exercise at the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre in Ado-Ekiti.
Justice Ogunmoye said the exercise was in line with his constitutional mandate aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring speedy administration of justice.
The chief judge disclosed that a total of 543 cases comprising 535 male and eight female inmates were reviewed during the exercise. He said 18 inmates were released unconditionally, three were granted bail, while one inmate was discharged following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that there was no case to answer.
He commended stakeholders in the justice sector for their support and contributions to the success of the exercise, noting that visits to correctional facilities would remain a continuous exercise under his administration.
Justice Ogunmoye also assured that he would undertake another visit to the custodial centre before the end of the year as part of efforts to sustain the decongestion programme.
Earlier, the Controller of Corrections in Ekiti State, Mrs Alaba Ajeleti, commended the chief judge for effectively carrying out his constitutional responsibility, describing the visit as a source of relief for inmates and a significant step toward reducing congestion in the facility.
Ajeleti lamented the overcrowded condition of the custodial centre, noting that although it was originally designed to accommodate 324 inmates, it currently houses 937 inmates.
She appealed to the Chief Judge and the Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), to collaborate with relevant authorities to provide additional cells and facilities for proper classification and management of inmates.
The controller also praised the Ekiti State Judiciary for embracing non-custodial sentencing options for minor offences, saying the policy had contributed significantly to reducing pressure on correctional facilities.
Among dignitaries present at the exercise were judges of the Ekiti State Judiciary, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata (SAN), magistrates, the Director of the Legal Aid Council, Mr Adeyinka Opaleke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, legal officers of the correctional service, and lawyers from both private and public legal practice.
