The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has freed thirty-three inmates of the three Custodial Centres of thẹ Nigerian Correctional Services in Lagos.

Alogba freed the inmates from the Custodial Centres in Ikoyi, Kirikiri Medium and Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Centers.

Of the thirty-three inmates, eight were released from the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, while eleven and fourteen were freed from the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Custodial Centres.

The inmates were pardoned at an open court session presided over by the Chief Judge at the premises of Justice Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba, Lagos.

Alogba noted that the exercise was in line with the efforts by the Federal Government to decongest the prisons as stipulated in Section 6 of the1999 Constitution and Chapter 40 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2005.

He said it was also pursuant to powers conferred on him to grant the inmates pardon pursuant to Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act.

The Chief Judge, who decried the prevalence of crimes in the society, said thẹ criteria used to determine those released were not based on sentiments.

He said they were meticulously followed and scrutinised by the Justice Adenike Coker-led Decongestion Committee.

“Those released were found fit and suitable to be released back into the society,” he said

Releasing the inmates, the CJ urged them to “go and sin no more” and be of good behaviour in the society, as worse punishment would be the consequence, if caught in another crime.

He warned that harsher punishment would be meted out on any of the freed inmates caught committing a crime.

The CJ praised the efforts of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) doing their best to reform the inmates, in order to make it easier for them to be reintegrated back into society.