Edo City–
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, approved the release of 70 inmates from various prisons across the state as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 57th independence.
A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the governor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie said, the 70 inmates had been in prison for a considerable time, explaining that some of them were in the prison custody for more than two years without trial.
Obaseki said the move was a step towards improving the justice delivery system in the state and reducing the number of awaiting-trial inmates by 50 percent.
He, however, stated that the inmates would be sternly cautioned to stay away from crime before they were let go.
The governor, who also attended a church service to mark the independence anniversary, urged Nigerians to be grateful for the opportunity to coexist peacefully in a free nation for 57 years.