NGO releases 11 inmates after offsetting fines

A non-governmental organisation, Anchor Heritage Initiative, has paid the fines of some inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Centres and secured their release months after languishing in confinement.

It was gathered that the lucky inmates had been convicted by different courts of law over some offences but were given the option of fines they could not afford.

However, they could not hide their joy after the NGO visited the correctional facilities where they were confined in Kwara, Osun, and Lagos States and paid their fines.

The Chief Operating Officer and co-Founder of Anchor Heritage, Mr. Bidemi Oladipupo, said the organisation paid the fines of seven inmates from three centres of the NCS Kwara State Command, including Oke Kura, Mandala, and Omu-Aran Correctional Centres.

Oladipupo added that one inmate of Ilesha Correctional Centre was also released after his fine was paid, while three inmates of Kirikiri also regained their freedom after their fines were paid.

“We are still working on securing the release of other inmates in Agodi, Kirikiri, and Ile-Ife Correctional Centres,” he added.

Confirming the release of the inmates after their fines were paid by the NGO, the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Kwara State Command, Dan Ayodeji Shuaib, commended the organisation and urged others to emulate the gesture.

“I want to confirm that Anchor Heritage Initiative paid some fines for the release of some inmates at Kwara State Command. Having paid the money, the inmates were released accordingly.

“Anchor Heritage Initiative is not alien to us as far as Correctional Service is concerned. I recall, as an officer in charge of Old Abeokuta, popularly known as Ibara, Anchor Heritage came to the facility at that time and trained a large number of our inmates on how to produce paints and even how to paint structures. They completed the training by painting the perimeter wall of that very custodial centre at that time. So, when I got to Ilorin and learned that Anchor Heritage wanted to come to our aid again in terms of payment of fines, I applauded it and appreciated it a lot more.

“I am even appealing that what they did in Abeokuta in terms of training inmates on how to produce paint and paint structures should be replicated in Kwara. So, I say kudos to them. We have seven people from our command,” he said.