The Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara, has released three inmates serving various terms in the Federal Correctional Service (FCS.)

Justice Adebara said that the correctional facilities are overcrowded and overstretched.

He urged the freed inmates to avoid committing crimes that could bring them back to the centre.

A statement by the centre’s Public Relations Officer, Adegbulugbe Philip, said that the three inmates regained freedom after the State Chief Judge visited the Old Ilorin and other facilities in the state.

He stated that the action falls within his constitutional rights as a judge. This allows him to review cases that have been in court for a long time, as well as consider inmates with terminal illnesses and minor offences.

Adebara said, “The essence of our visit is to look at the inmates and see how we can reduce the congestion in these correctional homes. You know, most correctional homes are overpopulated, leading to outbreaks of diseases. Our efforts are geared towards seeing how we can release and discharge some of the inmates who have overstayed their terms.

“Assuming they have been tried and sentenced, the number of months or years they would have spent in the correctional home, even without being tried, may have already been served. In such situations, when the Chief Judge visits like this and discharges such a person.

“Also, if we see serious health challenges in any of the inmates that could be life-threatening, we know that only a living person can stand trial in court. In such cases, we can grant terms that are not too harsh to the individual.”

In response, State Controller of Corrections Danmairomu Shuaib commended the Chief Judge and his entourage and urged the released inmates to maintain good conduct, avoid crime, and adhere to societal norms.

However, he advised the judiciary to direct inmates to Mandala Correctional Centre, which has excellent facilities and more space than the old centre at Oke-Kura in Ilorin.