Emmanuel Bamidele, the Deputy Controller of Prisons of Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos State, on Monday said that 48 inmates, who are awaiting trial, did well in the November/December 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Bamidele made the disclosure while receiving members of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos State, who paid a visit to the prison to present gifts to the inmates.
The visit was part of the activities to mark the Ikeja NBA 2014 Law Week.
According to him, out of the 102 inmates who sat for the examination, 48 of them had enough credits for admission into universities of their choice.
“When they finally regain their freedom, they can seek admission into any university of their choice since they are awaiting trial,” Bamidele said.
He disclosed that out of 1,761 inmates in the prison, 186 were convicts, while 1,575 had been awaiting trial for periods ranging from five to 13 years.
The deputy controller of prisons said that the major objective of the Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reintegration programme of the prison was to provide education and vocational skills for the inmates.
Bamidele said this would enable them to be useful to themselves and the society after their release from the facility.
In his address, Onyekachi Ubani, the Chairman of the NBA, Ikeja branch, said the branch was working with the Lagos State Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to secure the release of some of the inmates.
Ubani assured the inmates that the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, would soon visit the prison to free those who are eligible.
The gifts presented to the inmates included bags of rice, beans and detergents.
Trending
- Investigation: Why residents of Lagos community have been battling flood for years
- ARISE News goes live in 10 African countries
- Why my father supported Obi — Ezeife’s daughter
- Breaking: Chess-a-thon: Tunde Onakoya breaks Guinness World Record + Video
- IMF: Why we asked Nigeria to remove fuel subsidy
- FAAC shares March revenues to FG, states, LGs
- Obi not mixing politics with religion — Media aide
- Gov. Ododo didn’t shield Bello from arrest – Commissioner