The Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola has freed a total number of 21 awaiting trial detainees from the Ado-Ekiti Prisons in Ekiti State.
Justice Daramola ordered their release after reviewing the cases of 327 awaiting trial detainees during his annual visit to the prison.
Some of the detainees who regained their freedom are those charged with lesser offences like stealing and other baseless offences while others were released on health grounds.
Speaking before the commencement of interaction with the awaiting trial detainees, Justice Daramola debunked the insinuation that the purpose of the visit was not to set prisoners free.
The Chief Judge of the state explained that the purpose of the visit was to see how the detainees were being kept, their health and to see to their welfare.
He charged stakeholders in the criminal justice system to play their roles according to the dictates of the law to prevent overcrowding of prison facilities.
Justice Daramola urged ministers in the temple of justice to always handle their cases diligently to fast-track the dispensation of justice in Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.
The Chief Judge admonished the beneficiaries of his prerogative of mercy to go and sin no more and be useful to the society henceforth.
Stakeholders present during the visit frowned at the inadequate funding of the Nigerian prisons, calling on the Federal Government to provide more funds for the prisons.
In his remarks, the Deputy Comptroller, Federal Prisons, Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Olusola Babatunde, explained that the 500-capacity prison facility under his control has been well managed since his assumption of office.