Kwara CJ Orders Release of 16 Inmates to Decongest Custodial Centres
The Chief Judge of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara, has ordered the release of 16 inmates during his official inspection of the Ilorin Custodial Centres—the old facility at Okekura and the new centre at Mandala.
The exercise, conducted on Monday and Tuesday, was part of the judiciary’s statutory responsibility to decongest correctional facilities and uphold the constitutional guarantee of fair trial. At the Okekura Centre, eight inmates were granted conditional release while two were fully discharged. At Mandala, four inmates were discharged outright, with two others released conditionally.
Justice Adebara explained that the beneficiaries included: persons detained for prolonged periods without trial, inmates with serious health challenges and individuals held without credible charges
He stressed that the judiciary must ensure that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done. The Chief Judge urged prosecutors, defence counsel, and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system to work with greater diligence to avoid unnecessary delays and prolonged pre‑trial detentions.
Commending the Nigerian Correctional Service, Justice Adebara acknowledged the cooperation of its officers and reaffirmed the Kwara State Judiciary’s commitment to human rights protection and the advancement of the rule of law.
In his response, the State Controller of Corrections, Tolorunshagba Femi Emmanuel, expressed appreciation to the Chief Judge for the intervention and advised the released inmates to embrace reform and desist from conduct that could return them to custody.
