Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade on Tuesday freed 80 juveniles, who were incarcerated at the Badagry Prison in the state for sundry offences.

The inmates who are below 18 years old, were arrested and prosecuted by the Lagos State Task Force on various offences such as hawking and breach of the peace.

They were convicted by the Mobile Courts in the Lagos metropolis for various offences and sentenced to terms ranging from six months to two years after failing to pay fines imposed on them.

The prison facility which has 70 staff with a capacity for 320 inmates, is currently accommodating 584 inmates, out of which 389 are convicted and 195 awaiting trial.

Freeing the children from custody, Justice Atilade admonished them to be of good behaviour always.

In accordance with Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody (Special Provisions) Act Cap C40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

You are hereby released from custody this first day of August 2017 and you are warned to go and sin no more,” the chief judge said.

The children, who looked malnourished and clad in blue and green prison uniform, were immediately handed over to the Ministry of Youths and Social Development.

The chief judge had initially set out to release 28 children, but seeing the high figure of juveniles in the prison, 52 more children were released during the exercise which lasted from 12.30 p.m. to 3.35 p.m.

At least, 50 children were still in the facility.

Deputy Controller of Prisons, Oye Famuwagun in his address of welcome, highlighted the challenges facing the prison.

Badagry Prison lacks potable water for daily use and domestic needs, vehicles conveying inmates to court develop problems, all existing vehicles are old and are always malfunctioning.

The issue of quick dispensation of justice for the awaiting trial inmates poses a lot of problems and has made the prison to be over populated,” he said.

Head of the Family Court of the Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Yetunde Idowu in her speech, decried the incarceration of the children in the adult prison.

The Judiciary and the government of Lagos State has zero tolerance for child abuse and we are saying No to children in prison whether under conviction, trial or otherwise.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem also reiterated that the state government had a zero tolerance for the incarceration of minors.

Speaking through Solicitor –General and Permanent Secretary, Funlola Odunlami restated:““On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we do not permit this.

In her remarks, Chairman, State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, said the House would find solutions to the problem of incarceration of juveniles.

A Director in the Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Odunlami Anjorin said the ministry had adequate facilities for the rehabilitation of the children.

Much has been said about the Child Rights Law, the law is our guiding principle and the welfare of the children is the mandate of the Ministry.

The Ministry frowns at any form of child abuse, subjecting children to unnecessary harm and injury which is happening here.