No testing, no jail: Nigerian prison rejects suspects without COVID-19 test
- Suspects without a COVID-19 test certificate will not be accommodated at Agodi Correctional Centre
- The information was revealed by warders from the correctional facility in Oyo state
- This directive is coming as the country currently battles the second wave of COVID-19
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Agodi Correctional Centre located in Ibadan, Oyo state has said no inmate without evidence of negative COVID-19 test certificate would be accommodated in its facility, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
This was made known by warders from the correctional facility after they brought three suspected hooligans to Grade A Customary Court.
The officials explained that they are following a directive that without the certificate no criminal would be imprisoned at the facility.
Source: Twitter
The defendants identified as Oluwaseun Ayola, 33, Yusuf Taofeek, 41, and Adetunji Adeyemo, 45, were remanded in the Mapo police cell in a ruling by the president of the court, Imoleayo Akinrodoye.
They are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, willful obstruction, malicious damage, and road blocking.
Ayola and Taofeek pleaded guilty to the charges, but could not fulfil the bail conditions spelt out.
Federal government frees 2,600 prisoners
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the federal government announced that 2,600 inmates would be freed from various correctional centres across the country as part of measure to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, made this known during a press conference in Abuja. The interior minister described the decongestion of the correctional centres as "a symbolic gesture of amnesty" from President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Kaduna govt frees 12 convicts
In a related development, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai ordered the release of 12 convicts from correctional centres in the state to commemorate the beginning of the New Year.
A statement from Muyiwa Adekeye, the special adviser on media and communication, indicates that the beneficiaries were granted leniency based on the recommendation of the advisory council on the prerogative of mercy.
The breakdown of prisoners released includes 10 inmates who had six months or less to the end of their 3-year sentence, while two others were pardoned due to age.
Source: Legit.ng
