Chief Judge Orders Repatriation Of Released Non-Nigerians

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has freed 38 Awaiting Trial Inmates of the Ikoyi and Badagry Custodial Centres, just as he ordered the repatriation of foreigners among them.

Justice Alogba pardoned the inmates at an open court session held on the premises of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere, stating that the decision was pursuant to Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act.

He admonished the released inmates to behave well in society, adding that harder punishment would be meted out on any of them caught committing a crime again.

According to him “With the variety of cases heard today, we can see that we need to do more. We saw some lapses which we need to take care of, from the standpoint of the judiciary.

” I have noted the lapses and immediate steps will be taken about them. It is also obvious that some of those released today were workers who were not paid and resorted to helping themselves, that’s where they had a brush with the law”.

“My advice to the released inmates is to sin no more because if they are caught again and brought back to the court, severe punishment awaits them”, he added.

The Chief Judge also directed that released inmates who are foreign nationals should be repatriated back to their various countries.

The Controller of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Samuel Iyakoregha, stated that the release of the inmates would free up the facilities, noting that the exercise had encouraged the inmates to maintain good behaviour.

He said, “The exercise is a great relief to us, it was an exercise conducted with due diligence and thoroughness. Exercises like this are very necessary periodically because it helps to control the inmates and encourage them to be of good behaviour in order to be pardoned.

” My advice to the released inmates is to sin no more, they have been forgiven, and it is not that they clearly merited it but they have been given a second chance”.

Recall that in a similar exercise, Justice Alogba had, on Tuesday, freed 18 awaiting trial inmates of the Kirikiri Medium Security Custodial Centre.