(Ilorin)
The Chief Judge of Kwara state, Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun, has given amnesty to 46 inmates awaiting trial in the state, as part of the ongoing measures to decongest coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking during the exercise in Ilorin on Wednesday, Durosinlorun said that careful examination of files of the inmates showed that their detention was “manifestly unlawful.”
The chief judge, who granted outright release to 18 prison inmates of Oke Kura and Mandala custodial centres, also released on bail and relaxed bail conditions for 28 others.
He said the exercise was carried out after deliberations with concerned magistrates, Area Court judges and police prosecutors over the list of awaiting trial inmates of the centres submitted to him.
He said: “The first set of people were outrightly released because we found out that their detention was either manifestly unlawful or basis of their detention is civil and not criminal or that they are minor offences.
“They have been there for quite sometime, some since 2017.
“The second batch was granted bail and for those who have been granted bail, I have asked the magistrate or the area Court judges to relax and review their bail condition so that they can call their people to effect their release.
“Some were asked to produce two sureties. I have asked the magistrate or the area Court judges to reduce it to one so that they can quickly process their release.
“My words of advice to the beneficiaries of the amnesty is that, they should turn a new leaf and shun all criminal activities, especially, for those who have been granted outright release.
“As they journey, therefore, from incaptivity to freedom, they should make themselves useful by contributing meaninginfully to the wellbeing of their families and society at large.
“To the second batch, who have been directed to be admitted to bail, I urge them not to abscon or attempt to abscond from justice as the long arm of the law will catch up with them no matter how long it takes, if they do.
“They should endeavour to attend all court sittings until their trials are finally concluded.”
Duaglobalnews recalls that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, under his prerogative of mercy in the Constitution, granted amnesty to 101 inmates in the three custodial centres of Lafiagi, Oke Kura and Mandala in the state.
This is aimed at reducing overpopulation of the centres, in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
Of the number, 83 inmates were released outrightly, while 16 inmates on death sentence had their term commutted to life imprisonment, while two of such had outright release.
Also speaking, the Controller of Corrections, Kwara state Command, Mr Adebisi Adewale Francis, disclosed that there had not been any case of Coronavrus in any of the centres in the state.
He, however,urged the state government to instruct management of government hospitals to provide free treatment to the inmates.
