COVID-19: Lagos CJ frees 18 awaiting-trial inmates

Kazeem Alogba, chief judge of Lagos state, has released 18 prisoners awaiting trial in Kirikiri medium security custodial centre.

In line with the efforts of the federal government to decongest prisons so as to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), directed all heads of courts to visit prisons and release those with pardonable offences who are awaiting trial.

At an open session at the Igbosere magistrates’ court on Tuesday, Alogba granted pardon to the inmates who have been in custody since 2016 for offences such as stealing, burglary and fraudulent conversion.

The CJ said the pardon is pursuant to Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act, 2007.

He warned the pardoned inmates against going back to their life of crime.

“Don’t think that if you go back and breach the law, we won’t know. We will know because in Lagos state, we now have a database and fingerprints. If you are caught in crime and brought back, your punishment will be severe,” he said.

Samuel Iyakoregha, controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Lagos command, thanked the CJ for the gesture.

He, however, lamented the condition of the road leading to the facility in the Apapa area of Lagos, adding that inmates often arrive late for their trial in court due to the bad road.