6th February, 2018
Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, the Acting Chief Judge of Ondo State, has pardoned 29 inmates in two medium prisons in the state.
Akeredolu ordered the release of the inmates on Tuesday during a routine visit to Olokuta Prison in Akure and Owo Prison in Owo Local Government Area of the state.
The Acting Chief Judge told newsmen that the need to decongest prisons made it imperative to release some inmates who had been in custody for many years without trial.
According to her, 22 inmates were released at the Olokuta Medium Prison while seven inmates got pardon in Owo prison.
Akeredolu noted that 18 of the inmates would be released to a Non-Governmental Organisation for rehabilitation while others got their freedom on the condition that they had overstayed in prison without trial.
He appealed to the state Psychiatric Hospital to attend to the health needs of some of the newly released inmates already facing psychological problems.
Speaking earlier, the state Comptroller of Prisons Mr Duane Kname, said the poor living condition of the inmates was occasioned by congestion.
He called on the appropriate authorities to urgently look into the living condition in prisons in order to prevent outbreak of diseases among inmates.