Felix Otaru, Lokoja
Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi has warned Magistrates against placing outrageous fines on inmates.
Justice Majebi gave the warning while on routine visit to various correctional facilities across Kogi State.
The team which was led by the Chief Judge had various Judges of the High Court, Magistrates, other legal practitioners, human right team, Police, Department of State Security Services(DSS) on the visit which began from Koton-Karfe through that of Kabba, Okene, Ankpa, Dekina and Idah correctional medium facilities.
He called on the Magistrates to always make recourse to the law, pointing out that some pronouncements made by them are out of their jurisdiction.
The Chief Judge noted that visiting correctional facilities is an annual routine which is principally meant to ensure inmates are lawfully detained with special reference to those awaiting trials.
Justice Majebi who discovered a couple of inmates who looked visibly sick with some injured and requiring medical attention called on Magistrates to reject suspects who are in such condition henceforth.
He then assigned some senior Magistrates to embark on routine visits to police cells at least twice a month to ascertain the condition of suspects, noting that the appropriate authority will be notified about the planned exercise.
Similarly, the Chief Judge informed Magistrates to strike out cases particularly when prosecutors are not forthcoming with their witnesses to ascertain the commission of the alleged offense.
Meanwhile, Chairman House Standing Committee on Judiciary in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Halidu Adejoh expressed dissatisfaction over the poor condition of the inmates at the Koton Karfe facility, calling on the officers to improve the welfare of the inmates especially their feeding.
A Non-Governmental Organization known as Victory Idewele Foundation (VIF) with a vision of changing lives also took part in the exercise.
Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Innocent Idewele said the purpose of the NGO is to grant succour to the less privileged by giving them a second chance, hence promoting the payment of fines and compensations for inmates in that category.
Idewele who noted that the freed inmates across all the correctional facilities will be enrolled into a skill acquisition scheme in Abuja for twelve weeks after which they will be given a starter pack to stand on their own and by extension empower others as well.
According to him, the essence of this gesture by the foundation is to ensure the inmates no longer take the path of crime as a way of life but live a decent and productive life which will add value to the society.
The inmates in that category who were visibly elated with some engulfed with emotions thanked the founder of the Foundation for his kind gesture and prayed for his success and protection.
A total of twenty six inmates were beneficiaries of the Victory Idewele Foundation’s benevolence across the six correctional facilities which cut across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.
The Chief Judge also released unconditionally one Mustapha Shaibu who was charged for culpable homicide on the grounds of mental instability and Umar Muhammed charged for theft while Elizabeth Ojo charged for conspiracy and armed robbery was granted bail due to her medical condition.
