Chief Judge, CJ, of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima has released 97 inmates from Agodi correctional facility in Ibadan on health and compassionate grounds.
The CJ, represented by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the State High Court, freed the inmates during a visit to the facility yesterday.
The 97 inmates, including four females who had been awaiting trial, had their cases, mainly of capital offences, reviewed before their release.
Many who were freed on health conditions, battled epilepsy, asthma, liver problems, among others.
Yerima emphasised that the aim is to decongest the prison, which she said was already overstretched.
“The facility was originally designed to accommodate about 360 inmates, but today, they have up to 1,400 inmates,” she said.
She enjoined them to make the most of the opportunity by not returning to their past mistakes and engage in skills acquisition to better their lives.
“Not all the great people we have today had a rosy background. So, you should not let your background affect you negatively,” Yerima advised.
Earlier in his appreciation, the State Comptroller of Correction, Dare Opadeji said the visit was long-awaited by the inmates.
“The CJ did more than expected on Tuesday when 77 inmates were released at Abolongo facility in Oyo.
“We also thank God and the judiciary for today’s own.
“We hope that this will be done on a regular basis,” Opadeji said. (NAN)
