10th December, 2010
Six prison inmates detained in various prisons in Lagos have regained freedom, following the intervention of Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu.
The inmates were freed after counsels from Stephen and Solomon foundation, a free legal services arm of the Giwa Amu chambers in conjuction with knights of St Mulumba, Lekki sub council filed applications for their release.
Some of the inmates who were detained in prisons because they could not pay the fines imposed on them or meet their bail conditions benefited from the gesture of the popular Lagos-based estate consultant.
Those released include Hadejat Oseni Abdullahi Abdulsalami, Adesina, Christian Agim, Mukaila Kateji and Mary Sunday. They were released from Maximum Security Prisons, Kirikiri and Ikoyi Prisons.
The offences of the detainees ranged from breach of peace and assault to fighting.
Three of the detainees in Kirikiri prisons were released on the order of the senior magistrate in Agbowa Ikosi. They have been in prisons for the past five months without trial. They were arrested for allegedly stealing a Nokia phone.
A Somolu Magistrate’s Court also ordered the release of Agim and Kufehi charged with the breach of peace and assault.
Commenting on the release of the detainees, Chief Giwa Amu called on the government to re-orientate its officials to stop detaining more in prison.
“Minor offences like breach of peace and assault should not result in offenders being detained for long in prison. This contributes to the congestion in prison,†he stated.