Ekiti Chief Judge grants pardon to 51 awaiting trial inmates, grants bail to 6 others
Ekiti Chief Judge Releases 57 Awaiting Trial Inmates
Ado Ekiti, Nigeria — Hon. Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, has ordered the release of 57 awaiting trial inmates during an official visit to the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado Ekiti.
During the visit, the Comptroller of Corrections in Ekiti, CC Oluremi Christy Okuseinde, characterized the occasion as beneficial, noting that it would provide relief to some inmates. She highlighted the facility’s overcrowded conditions, which currently house 922 inmates, significantly exceeding its capacity of 324. Okuseinde called for the establishment of additional facilities to address this issue.
She also requested that Justice Ogunmoye and the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, advocate for the construction of more cells and buildings. This would facilitate better classification of inmates and support more effective planning for sentencing, rehabilitation, and reform.
Justice Ogunmoye reviewed a total of 518 cases—511 involving male inmates and seven involving female inmates. Of these cases, six were granted bail, nine were dismissed due to lack of evidence, and 42 were released unconditionally because of health concerns and minor offenses.
The Chief Judge expressed gratitude to various stakeholders, including the legal unit of the Nigerian Police Force in Ekiti State, the Director of Public Prosecutions, private and official lawyers, court registrars, and others for their contributions to the review process.
He commended the Comptroller for maintaining a hygienic environment within the facility and ensuring the health of the inmates. Justice Ogunmoye also advised the released individuals to serve as positive examples in society, warning that the law would pursue any troublemakers in Ekiti State.
Among those in attendance were High Court judges, the Director of the Legal Aid Council in Ekiti State, Mr. Adeyinka Opaleke, magistrates, and other legal officials.
