Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, has granted freedom to eight inmates awaiting trial at the Oko Medium Security Prison in Benin, Edo State.
Justice Idahoza approved the release of the inmates during the visit of the Edo State Administration of Justice Committee to the prison.
Those inmates released are Isaiah Michael, who was remanded for alleged armed robbery since January 10, 2009, and Mohammed Buba, who has spent five years and five months in prison custody, Christian Ikekiaye and Festus Abukari, who had spent three years and eight months and four years and two months in prison custody for alleged armed robbery, respectively.
Others are Otamere Iyase, Ali Bello, Abubakar Ali and Ajauro Unuahro, who had spent a year and six months and was said to have no case to answer.
One of the freed inmates, Buba, who spoke after his release, said that he was arrested while selling onions at the New Benin Market for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery and had been remanded in prison custody since April 20, 2010.
The father of two, who hails from Borno State, however, expressed gratitude to the state government for granting him freedom and said that he hoped to return to his family in the North east.
Earlier, Idahosa decried what he described as “bloated prison cells” which created numerous challenges in the administration of justice in the state, noting that the prolonged nationwide strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria contributed to the delay in delivery of justice.
He also said with the number of persons on the awaiting trial list pegged at 39,577 nationwide, most prisons had become overpopulated and are starved of adequate health care, sanitation and recreational facilities.
