The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, has granted pardon to seventy-nine awaiting-trial inmates at the Agodi Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The inmates were released on compassionate grounds, with charges ranging from fraud, unlawful sexual intercourse, and breach of peace to armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
Some were also pardoned due to poor health.
One of the beneficiaries, Lekan Oroleye, had been remanded for allegedly absconding with a friend’s iPhone 12 Pro Max, which was later recovered and returned.
Another freed inmate, Timileyin Adeniran, explained he had been detained after a commercial motorcycle he was purchasing on installments was stolen from him.
The review also presented an emotional case where Michael Kolawole was remanded in place of his pregnant wife, who was involved in a neighborly dispute.
However, the proceedings took a dramatic turn when an inmate, Idris Oladosu, who is being tried for conspiracy, stealing, and unlawful society membership, fainted upon learning his case would proceed to trial.
Fellow inmates rushed to his aid.
Representing the Chief Judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola highlighted that the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to decongest the state’s overcrowded custodial centres through regular jail visits and case reviews.
Justice Yerima reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to expediting hearings for the speedy dispensation of justice.
The Controller of Corrections for the Oyo State Command, Mr. Ayoola Opadeji, represented by Deputy Controller of Corrections Timothy Oyelade, advised the freed inmates not to take their freedom for granted and to become positive members of society.
The pardoned inmates expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge and pledged never to return to a life of crime.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Osun State have warned Governor Ademola Adeleke against any attempt to remove the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adebola Adepele-Ojo.
The group described the move as undue interference and an attempt by the executive arm of the government to coerce the judiciary.
At a press conference jointly addressed by Mr Ayodeji Ologun of Osun Masterminds, Mr Emmanuel Olowu, Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Mr Ismaheel Adedokun, Dialogue 360 and Mr Wole Folaranmi, Vice Chairman of Osun Civil Society Coalition, the groups maintained that it was dangerous for democracy in Osun State should the government go ahead to remove the State Chief Judge.
“This move is particularly troubling as it appears to be a reprisal against the Chief Judge for her principled stand against attempts to manipulate the judiciary in the state.”
“The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of any democratic society, and any attempt to undermine or interfere with the judiciary, compromises the very foundations of the rule of law.”
“The Chief Judge, in her capacity, has a constitutional duty to uphold justice and ensure the fair and impartial administration of the law. Her commitment to these principles should be celebrated, not met with attempts at removal for political reasons.”
“We hereby call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to respect the independence of the judiciary and immediately cease any attempts to remove the Chief Judge based on her principled stance. The judiciary must be allowed to operate without fear of reprisal or political interference, ensuring that justice is served impartially and without bias.”
Similarly, the groups condemned the appointment of Mr. Hashim Abloye, as the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSIEC, saying it was unconstitutional to appoint a card-carrying member of the governor’s political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to such an independent office.
Reacting, the state government declared that it was unaware of any plot against the state Chief Judge, even as it affirms its commitment to due process and stipulated regulations across the all arms of government.
Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said: “The state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his team are preoccupied with delivering good governance to the citizenry with no time for diversionary conducts”.
“The governor is therefore not in a position to stop the legislature from doing her statutory job and neither can the governor hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties.”
Oyo state Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde has assured that his administration would continue to work in harmony with other arms of government to produce a system of governance the people of the state would be proud of.
He gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony for the acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima held at the Executive Chamber Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde pledged to always guarantee a system that would work in Oyo state in collaboration with other arms of government.
He also noted that the appointment of the Chief Judge in an acting capacity was to prevent a vacuum in the system before the National Judicial Council, NJC, concluded its processes of recommendation for a substantive Chief Judge.
The governor expressed confidence in the competence and ability of the acting Chief Judge.
Recounting the travails of Justice Yerima before rising to the pinnacle of her career, Governor Makinde admonished the people to stand for the truth and persevere, as they would be vindicated in the future.
In her acceptance speech, the acting Chief Judge, justice Yerima pledged her loyalty and commitment to a speedy justice delivery system to the people as well as judiciously utilizing all resources allocated to the judiciary to ensure speedy justice delivery.
The Speaker of the state house of assembly, Rt Hon, Debo Ogundoyin, Top government functionaries and other well-wishers attended the ceremony
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has commissioned the dualised 9.7kilometres Oke-Ogun Poly-Saki Township/Ilesha Ibaruba Road.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State who was the special guest of honour at the event commended Makinde for delivering such a massive road project, among many others, despite economic challenges in the country.
He congratulated Governor Makinde for standing firm with his people, saying that the governor is living up to the expectations of the people.
“He is someone in a hurry to change the fortune of his people for good. I must confess that the quantum of projects I have seen in Oyo State have forced my belief in him and increased my respect for him. The APFA initiative for the urban renewal campaign, which he has initiated, is manifesting multiple road infrastructure.”
“I have also seen the wonders he has performed in other key sectors of health, education, rural infrastructure, trade and Commerce. I can confirm that this can only be achieved in a PDP state.”
(From left, Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundoyin; Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan during the commissioning of Saki township 9.7 km road, Saki) PHOTO: Oyo State Government
Speaking at the official commissioning ceremony held at the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Governor Makinde maintained that the Saki Township road project would enhance the socio-economic development of the state and play a major role in engineering a modern Oyo State.
He added that his administration Would not play politics with the development of Oyo State, noting that his administration will continue to take development beyond Ibadan, the capital of the state.
(From right, Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan; Governor, Seyi Makinde; Adamawa State Governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundoyin; Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi and Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao during the commissioning of Saki township 9.7km road, Saki) PHOTO: Oyo State Government.
The governor revealed that the state was able to save over one billion naira from the initial contract awarded by the previous administration, adding that the state would continue to maintain zero tolerance for wastage.
“I am glad to see the happy faces here today and what are we celebrating here? We are celebrating accelerated development because everywhere a strategic road goes, development follows immediately. “History has it that the first road for motorised vehicles in Nigeria was built here in Oyo State in 1906, and the road links Ibadan to Oyo town.”
It was useful for transporting agricultural products from Oyo to Ibadan and from there to the Port for export. So, this is why I am excited about this linkage we are creating here in the Oke-Ogun zone.
“Oke-Ogun is our bread basket and agricultural arbiter and that is why we returned OYSADA to Saki Township. “So, linking Oke-Ogun up to the rest of the zones means we can easily move our clothing for export either by air through our airport or by sea through the dry port at Moniya. Since we fixed the Moniya road, we have been able to cut the travel time from Saki to Ibadan to almost two and a half hours as against the former five hours. “We know we have to take development beyond the state capital as we cannot afford to continue in the trajectory where one part of the state is generating the revenue that all the other parts of the state benefit from. “This will only create another Nigerian situation in Oyo State. So, it is time to diversify and a proper good linkage is the first step in the diversification process.”
“We will continue to make Oyo State the proof that good governance is possible in Nigeria. We are kick-starting an infrastructural revolution that will make people say, once again, that they are proud of our state.”
“On the request made by both the Chief Judge and Kabiyesi the Okere of Saki, we will extend the road by another 1.2 kilometres.”
