The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima has pardoned thirty two inmates remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service, Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan, in a bid to decongest custodial facilities in the state,
Some of the inmates were granted pardon on health and humanitarian grounds.
In a remark, Justice Yerima represented by Justice Akinniyi Akintola noted that the gesture was a statutory responsibility of her office to visit Correctional centres and pardon inmates that had been held longer than necessary.
Justice Yerima maintained that the visit would have been held few months ago but for the outbreak of mpox in the custodial facilities.
She admonished the inmates that have been pardoned to turn a new leaf and refrain from going back to crime.
The Controller, Nigeria Correctional service, Oyo State Command, Mr Babafemi Jaiyeoba represented by the assistant controller of correction, Mrs Sarah Bolorunduro appealed to the Chief Judge to make the visit a periodic one so as to create more conducive environment for the inmates.
The officer in charge, Nigeria Correctional service, Agodi, Ibadan, Mr Olayinka Olayiwola called on the Chief Jugde to separate criminal matters from civil ones at the Magistrate Court as its merger was one of the causes of congestion of the facility.
Also speaking, chairman, Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Mr Festus Sule said the group would continue to provide assistance to the pardoned inmates until they are fully rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.