16 awaiting trial inmates freed in Ondo
The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, has approved the release of 16 inmates at the Olokuta prisons in Akure, after spending several years in prison without trial. Five of the inmates who were accused of either murder or armed robbery were said to have spent seven years awaiting trial.
Their release yesterday was part of a prison decongestion exercise being embarked upon by the state judiciary. One of the inmates, Friday Eje, was arrested in 2007 over an alleged murder committed by his brother. He was released after the Director of Public Prosecution could not trace the case records. Oladejo Felix, another inmate, confessed to have killed his apprentice in a rage of anger and had spent seven years and six months without trial. He was released to the St. Joseph Halfway House, an NGO, for his rehabilitation and final release.
Another beneficiary, Oladapo Oduwale, was arrested and detained since 2008 after threatening his father for failing to provide him money to enrol for JAMB examinations. He got his freedom after the chief judge called his father to ascertain if the robbery charge against him had any substance.
Olorunda Adebowale and Felix Peter, who were separately accused of committing murder, also regained their freedom after several years without trial. Audu Idris, Kehinde Johnson, Jelili Abduganiyu, and Wale Ogidan were released for being terminally ill. Two others, Onigbo James and a man identified as Sola were released for being mentally ill and sent to a psychiatric hospital.
The chief judge also considered the case of five minors who were arrested and detained for conspiracy to commit felony. They were considered underage and were sent to a remand home.