Ekiti Chief Judge frees 51 awaiting-trial inmates, grants bail to six others

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, has ordered the release of 57 inmates awaiting trial following a jail delivery exercise at the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

Justice Ogunmoye took the decision during an official inspection of the facility, where several pending cases were reviewed. Of the inmates considered, six were granted bail, nine were discharged for having no case to answer, while 42 others were freed unconditionally due to health challenges and involvement in minor offences.

Speaking during the visit, the Ekiti State Comptroller of Corrections, CC Oluremi Christy Okuseinde, described the intervention as timely and impactful, noting that it would ease the burden on the overcrowded facility.

She disclosed that the centre currently houses 922 inmates despite having a capacity for only 324 persons.

Okuseinde appealed to the Chief Judge and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to leverage their offices to support the construction of additional cells and facilities.

According to her, improved infrastructure would enhance inmate classification, sentence planning, reformation, and rehabilitation.

Justice Ogunmoye reviewed a total of 518 cases, comprising 511 male and seven female inmates. He expressed appreciation to stakeholders involved in the exercise, including the Nigerian Police Force legal unit, Ekiti State Command, the Director of Public Prosecutions, members of both the private and official bar, court registrars, and other contributors.

The Chief Judge also commended the Comptroller of Corrections for maintaining a clean and healthy environment within the facility.

He advised the released inmates to conduct themselves responsibly, warning that anyone who returns to criminal activity would face the full weight of the law.

Dignitaries present at the exercise included the Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, High Court judges, the Director of the Legal Aid Council in Ekiti State, Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, magistrates, and other judicial officers.