Lagos moves to decongest prisons through plea bargain

The Lagos State Government has activated moves to considerably bring down the number of inmates on awaiting trial in prisons across the State through the implementation of plea bargain aspect of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

Speaking at an awareness visit to Ikoyi Prison on the initiative, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr AdenijiKazeem, said the huge population of inmates in prisons in the State was of serious concern to the State Government, adding that there was dire need to implement initiatives such as the plea bargain concept to drastically reduce the figures.

Kazeem, who was represented by the State’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs TitilayoShitta-Bay, specifically encouraged the inmates who are guilty of the alleged offence for which they were facing trial to embrace plea bargain, and thereby save time as well as serve lesser punishment.

According to her, “Plea Bargain will help to reduce the punishment for inmates, save public funds and time, and that is the reason why the State Government is purposely using the initiative to also decongest Prisons in the State.”

Giving details on how the initiative works, Shitta-Bay said applicant for Plea Bargain has to state the reasons and it would then be considered only on merit and based on the seriousness of the offence which the applicant is to be sentenced for.

Speaking further, she said: “The lawyers would write their recommendations too and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice would consider the facts of the matter and circumstances.

“Also, the granting of the application for Plea Bargain is at the approval of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.”

In his response, the Comptroller in charge of Ikoyi Prison, DCP ToluOgunsakin commended the State Government for the proactive approach in decongesting Prisons in the State, just as he advised inmates to make use of the wonderful initiative by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice through the office of Director of Public Prosecutions.

Addressing the inmates, Ogunsakin said: “You have always been praying for freedom and Lagos State Government has brought you the opportunity so embrace it and confess to the crime that brought you to Prison instead of wasting your time and energy here.”

Aside Ikoyi Prison, the team also visited Kirikiri Female Prison, Kirikiri Medium Prison and Kirikiri Maximum Prison, all in the State.