By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
An anonymous philanthropist has freed nine inmates from two correctional facilities in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by offsetting the fines imposed on them by the courts.
Six of the inmates were freed from Oke-Kura prison, while the remaining three were freed from Mandala prison, both in Ilorin.
It was gathered that the anonymous philanthropist, secured the release of the inmates after paying their fines from his annual Zakat (charity).
Zakat is the fourth pillar of Islam through which wealthy Muslims give out a prescribed amount of their wealth in charity to the less-privileged members of the society, including debtors and prisoners.
Findings by this medium revealed that many inmates are languishing in prison facilities because of their inability to pay various fines in lieu of the imprisonment
It was gathered that the inability of some inmates to pay the fines imposed on them, upon conviction by the courts, is a major reason why the prisons are congested.
For instance, the four correctional centres in Kwara State – Oke-Kura, Mandala, Omu-Aran and Lafiagi – which were designed to accommodate 600 inmates are now being occupied by no fewer than 1,232 inmates.
It was also gathered that the freed nine inmates include a couple who regained their freedom just one day to clock one year in captivity .
When contacted, the Kwara State Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Services, Mr. Oyeniran Famuwagun, confirmed the release of the nine inmates from the Oke-Kura and Mandala correctional centres after the philanthropist who sought anonymity paid their various fines.
He emphasised the need for fellow well-meaning citizens to emulate the philanthropist in the Nation’s collective efforts to decongest the prisons and make inmates better reformed citizens after the completion of their prison terms.
While commending the Federal Government for its efforts in ensuring the wellbeing of the inmates, Famuwagun said that more still needs to be done in the provision of more bed spaces for the facilities in Kwara State, especially at Oke-Kura.
He acknowledged the support of the Kwara State government to the Command, citing the recent tarring of the road that leads to the Command’s headquarters at the GRA, Ilorin and the sinking of a borehole at Oke-Kura centre by the wife of the Governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, while further appealing for provision of more logistics like vehicles for the Command.
Famuwagun called for the relocation of Oke-kura correctional centre from its present location in the heart of Ilorin metropolis to a new site, to allow for the provision of more facilities like vocational centres and study centres for National Open University (NOUN)for the inmates to be well reformed.
He, therefore, appealed to the Kwara State government for more support to the Command, particularly in the areas of vehicles and staff accommodation, adding that the Command did not even have enough vehicles to convey inmates to courts.
Famuwagun added: “Many inmates at Oke-Kura prison are being detained for inability to pay various fines. So, if we have more donors like this anonymous philanthropist, more inmates could be freed and the prisons will thus become decongested.”
Above all, Famuwagun recommended quick dispensation of justice by the judiciary and the synergy among the relevant stakeholders as some of the measures that could pave the way for prison decongestion.