The Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafumilayo Atilade, has pardoned 20 prisoners awaiting trial in Ikoyi Prisons, telling them to go and sin no more.
NAN reports that the act was part of activities marking the 2016/2017 legal year.
According to the Chief Judge,
“Having been informed by the prison officials of the offences for which you have been in prison for a period longer than three months, I pronounce, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are all hereby released from custody this 27th day of September, 2016.
“This is without prejudice to any charge that may be preferred against you at a later date; I, therefore, enjoin you to turn a new leaf and go and sin no more.”
The Chief Judge explained that every individual deserved a second chance at life, hence, it was better for 10 guilty persons to go scot free than for one innocent person to be punished unjustly, pointing that 2,065 inmates had been released from custody since she took over.
Commenting on her commitment to seeing justice prevailed in the state, Atilade explained that visiting the prison to grant official pardon to qualified inmates was an important part of her administration.
“It is a notorious fact that the number of awaiting trial inmates far exceeds those of convicted inmates, and for this reason, my administration has established a Prison Decongestion Committee to set up criteria for the release of inmates.” she said.
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