Edo CJ frees eight inmates, decries prison congestion

Eight awaiting trial inmates have regained their freedom from the Oko Medium Security Prison in Benin, Edo State.

The inmates were released on Wednesday during the visit of the Edo State Administration of Justice Committee.

Those released by the committee headed by the State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa‎, include Isaiah ‎Michael, who was remanded for alleged armed robbery since January 10, 2009, and Mohammed Buba, having spent five years and five months in prison custody.

Also included were Christian Ikekiaye and Festus Abukari, who had spent three years and eight months and four years and two months in prison custody for alleged armed robbery, respectively.

Others were Otamere Iyase, ‎Ali Bello, Abubakar Ali and Ajauro Unuahro, who had spent a year and six months and was said to have no case to answer.

One of the freed inmates, Buba, told the committee that he was arrested while selling onions at the New Benin for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery and had been remanded in prison custody since April 20, 2010.

The father of two, who hails from Bornu State, however, expressed gratitude to the state government ‎for granting him freedom and said that he hoped to return to his family in the North-East.

Earlier, Cromwell decried what he described as “bloated prison cells‎” which created numerous challenges in the administration of justice in the state.

He noted that the prolonged nationwide strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria contributed to the delay in the judicial system.

He also said with the number of persons on the awaiting trial list pegged at 39,577 nationwide, most prisons had become overpopulated and starved of adequate health care, sanitation and recreational facilities.

He, however, expressed hope that the new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which was signed into law in May, would address many of the challenges faced by the judiciary.

He also disclosed that the new law was already being worked on by the state Ministry of Justice, in order to domesticate it in Edo.

Edo CJ frees eight inmates, decries prison congestion