The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, Wednesday, ordered the immediate repatriation of five foreign nationals of Benin Republic, Niger and Togo, who were among the 38 newly freed inmates of the Ikoyi and Badagry custodial centres.
Among the 38 inmates are two Beninese, two Nigeriens and one Togolese.
The 38 inmates were pardoned at an open court session the Chief Judge presided over on the premises of the Lagos State Magistrate Court in Igbosere.
Emphasising that the exercise was in line with the efforts of the Federal Government to decongest prisons in its fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the CJ said he granted the inmates pardon pursuant to Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act.
Following their release, he enjoined the freed inmates to adopt good behaviour, stressing that harsher punishment awaits anyone caught committing crimes again after being pardoned.
According to the Controller of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Samuel Iyakoregha, the release of the inmates is a relief to the facilities.
He further encouraged that exercises like this were very needful because “We use them to control our inmates to be of good behaviour and bring some kind of relief to them”.
