Lagos CJ Frees 233 Inmates From Kirikiri Prison.

A total of 233 prison inmates awaiting trial were on Tuesday, freed in Lagos by the State's Chief Judge, Ayotunde Phillips.

Though, the gesture was part of the State's 2012/2013 Legal year, it marked an unprecedented moment in the history of the overcrowded prisons, Kirikiri Maximum and Medium (Male) Prisons, where 130 and 103 inmates secured their freedom, respectively.

For the freed inmates, it was a joyous moment that would have been perfect, but for the taunting from other inmates that they would soon return to the fold.

Noting the overwhelming number of inmates awaiting trial at the prisons, the Chief Judge declared the men free following "careful" consideration.

Phillips said she exercised her powers "under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provision Act) Cap L40, Laws of Federation 2007."

Expressing hope to visit the female wing of Kirikiri and Alagbon Prisons at a later date, Phillips said such gestures would mark every legal year and also "regularly- once in a quarter or once in six months."

"Go and sin no more"

She however, appealed to the freed inmates to "go and sin no more", saying that it is better for ten guilty men to go free than for one innocent man to be wrongly jailed.

Nigerian Prisons are largely dominated by inmates awaiting trial and it has recently become a major issue keeping the prisons congested.

Long list of inmates awaiting trial

For instance, 2378 are awaiting trial out of 2502 inmates at the Kirikiri Medium (Male) Prisons. 

"So many inmates to consider, but we had to do a thorough job; we must be careful not to release those who are not supposed to be released," the Chief Judge said.

Earlier, Tinuoye Olumide, Deputy Comptroller of Kirikiri Prisons, asked that adequate compensation be considered for inmates who spend unwarranted time in prison.

He also urged Phillips to regularly visit prisons in the state, noting that her predecessors failed to identify with the prisons.

"Our prison is congested and we have inmates here with more than 12 years awaiting trial; they (inmates) tend to look at these things as injustice," he said.

"The time spent behind bars without justice is wasted years. Some of them should be compensated; I'm not saying they have not offended, but when you keep somebody for over 30 years without justice, what remains."

At the event, the inmates greeted each statement made by Phillips' with a raucous applause that resonated the anticipation of the expected good news.

Also, as the inmates were official called and discharged, they ran to the open field in a show of unmatched happiness.

Allegations of wrongful arrests

However, some of the inmates said that they were wrongly accused of wrongdoing in the first place.

They urged the government to check the activities of corrupt police officers, who congest the prisons by making unlawful arrests.

Ezike Donatus, who was charged for robbery, claimed to have been arrested in a bar, along with six others.

He claimed that two of the bunch, who were strangers, were found in possession of guns.

"While people came to bail the others, I had no one to bail me and I was repeatedly tortured to confess; the police shot me in the leg and broke my knuckles," he said, showing his gunshot wound.

Saheed Ahmed, 32, who said he was a carpenter, claimed to have been in the "wrong place at the wrong time."

"They had just robbed a man of N2 million and I was unlucky to be passing by when I was arrested. The man told the police that I was not the robber, but they demanded that I pay to secure my release," he said.

Ahmed said that he was tortured by the police, but had no confession to make because he was "innocent".

 

Meanwhile, Zarephath AID, a non-profit organisation, has signified intention to rehabilitate the freed inmates for proper adjustment into the society.

The organisation's Head, Legal, Adegbola Afuye, said they intend to provide temporary accommodation and jobs for the freed inmates.

"We've been talking churches, mosques, telecom and media companies to provide them with mobile phones to do call business or get vendor jobs to occupy them for the meantime," he said.

The prison visits included judges, magistrates, directors from the State Ministry of Justice and lawyers.