In a significant move towards justice reform and decongestion of custodial centres, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, granted amnesty to 30 prisoners on Thursday, ordering their reintegration into society. These individuals were among the 40 inmates slated for pardon by the chief judge, while the remaining 10 faced varied outcomes.
During an open court session held at the premises of Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Ogba, Alogba presided over the proceedings that saw the release of the pardoned inmates. The group included four juveniles from the Borstal Training Institution in Adigbe, Abeokuta, where young offenders receive education and vocational training to facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Other prisoners were released from the Ikoyi and Kirikiri custodial facilities.
Emphasizing the significance of the amnesty, the chief judge highlighted its alignment with the Federal Government’s efforts to alleviate congestion in custodial centres. He explained, “I am not a Father Christmas; the exercise we are witnessing today is a self-cleansing exercise as provided for in the law. It is guided by relevant laws upon fulfilment of requisites.”
Alogba further clarified that the amnesty was granted to those who had exceeded the appropriate duration of stay following conviction or experienced trial delays. He recognised that the need for such action was a consequence of systemic failures unrelated to the judiciary but influenced by ancillary factors.
Commending the committee responsible for reviewing the cases of the released individuals, the chief judge expressed satisfaction with their diligent work. He stated, “Since it is a matter required by law, we must be diligent in carrying out the exercise. The members of the committee have done excellently. I insisted on several occasions that the committee goes through due process, which they have done, and I assure you all that they will continue to go through due process.”
Representing the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Lagos Command, Deputy Controller Comfort Obiosio attended the event. The NCS had nearly 9,000 inmates across three custodial facilities in the state, raising concerns about overcrowding. Mr. Ben Freedman, the Controller of NCS, Lagos Command, urged the chief judge to utilise his authority to release deserving and remorseful inmates, thereby contributing to the decongestion efforts. Freedman stated, “We have almost 9,000 locked up in Lagos, and we hope the CJ uses his good offices to free those qualified and decongest the facilities.”
Acknowledging the partnership between the Nigeria Police and the justice system, Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara, expressed support for decongestion measures. Ayilara emphasized that being in correctional centers should not hinder an individual’s potential for reintegration into society and assured that the police would continue to conduct diligent investigations to aid in the decongestion process.
The amnesty granted by the Chief Judge of Lagos State signifies a step towards justice reform and alleviating of the strain on custodial facilities. As the pardoned prisoners embark on their journey to reintegrate into society, it is hoped that this action will contribute to a more equitable and effective criminal justice system in Lagos.
