The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in Bayelsa on Friday said it has concluded an audit of the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa.
The Council said the audit, followed a Presidential initiative on prison decongestion, led to the release of a 17 year old inmate detained alongside adults.
Mr Eddy Inenevwo, Coordinator, Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa said in an interview that the audit was conducted on Wednesday.
Inenevwo explained that the Legal Aid Council carried out the audit in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission on children in custody.
He said that, President Bola Tinubu had mandated the two organisations to evaluate inmates with options of fines for minor offences and minors held with adults.
According to him, data of inmates with option of fines were also compiled and sent to the office of Attorney-General of the Federation for possible payment of judgement fines.
He said that the audit found out that there is no remand centre in Bayelsa, a situation that compels detention of minors and adults.
“The Legal Aid Council and the National Human Rights Commission visited the Okaka correctional center, Bayelsa and found a 17 year old, Justice Morris, who was in custody of the centre.
“He was arrested late January, charged and admitted to the correctional center on February 12, 2025.
“During the exercise on Wednesday Feb. 19, we demanded for his warrant and saw that
the matter was adjourned to Feb. 26, 2025 for hearing and the offence was Assault occasioning Harm on the head of one Patience Sumala,” Inenevwo said
The Coordinator said the Legal Aid Council took up the matter, went to court and address the court on the issue of minors being in the cell with the adults.
Inenevwo noted that the Council found out that since the 17 year old was charged to court, no prosecution witnesses came to court.
“Justice Morris’s continuous stay in custody without trial is unfair and a breach of his constitutional right.
“The Chief Magistrate Court 15; struck out the charge and discharged the defendant,” Inenevwo said.
Juliana Ogundipe, Legal Aid lawyer, Accused Master Justice Morris and Mr Eddy Inenevwo, Coordinator, Legal Aid Council in Bayelsa shortly after the inmate regained freedom