The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, on Friday, February 6, 2026, authorised the release of 57 inmates awaiting trial from the Federal Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti.
Justice Ogunmoye, who personally presided over the review while on an official visit to the custodial facility, scrutinised the cases of hundreds of inmates and announced that the beneficiaries comprised three categories. “Six inmates, who were granted bail; nine others released on the basis of having no case to answer; and 42, who were released unconditionally based on health issues and minor offences,” he said, clarifying the basis for their freedom.
During the session, Ogunmoye examined a total of 518 cases, including those of 511 male and seven female inmates, highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to reviewing prolonged detentions. The judge urged the freed individuals to conduct themselves responsibly, warning that “the law will catch troublemakers in Ekiti State” if they fall into wrongdoing again.
The chief judge also took the opportunity to thank key stakeholders whose cooperation made the exercise possible, including the Legal Unit of the Nigerian Police Force, Ekiti State Command; the Director of Public Prosecutions; lawyers from both the official and private bars; and court registrars among others, for their contribution to the case reviews.
Justice Ogunmoye commended the custodial centre’s Comptroller of Corrections, Olufemi Okuseinde, for her efforts in maintaining “a hygienic environment” and ensuring the health of inmates. However, Okuseinde drew attention to the facility’s severe congestion, stating that the centre’s population of 922 inmates far exceeds its capacity of 324, creating untenable conditions.
Describing the judge’s intervention as a “relief to some inmates,” Okuseinde appealed for the construction of additional cells and buildings. She urged Justice Ogunmoye as well as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata SAN, to leverage their offices to expand the infrastructure. According to her, increased space would enhance proper classification of inmates, which is critical for sentence planning, reformation and rehabilitation.
Present at the release exercise were top legal officials, including the Attorney General, high court judges, magistrates and the Director of the Legal Aid Council in Ekiti State, Mr Adeyinka Opaleke, signalling a broad institutional backing for the exercise.
