Ado-Ekiti—Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti
State, yesterday declared that his government
was unable to release some Ekiti indigenes
being detained for politically-motivated killings
because of the need to allow the rule of law
to run its full course .
The governor, who decried the deplorable
condition of the facilities in all the Nigerian
prisons called on the federal government to
effect serious overhauling in the interest of
the inmates, urging the Federal Government to
, as a matter of urgency, upgrade facilities in
the prisons across the federation.
The governor made the statement in Ado Ekiti,
on yesterday during a visit to the prisons to
examine the state of the facilities.
The governor said this in reaction to the
pleadings by some spouses of the inmates,
especially those whose husbands were in
prison for crimes of political violence,
appealing to governor Fayose to release them.
Ayodele Fayose
He was escorted to the place by the Chief
Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.
Those being imprisoned for alleged politically-
motivated killings include: former Chairman of
the Road Transport Employers’ Association of
Nigeria, Chief Rotimi Olabiwonu, his
predecessor, Mr Bayo Aderiye, the Coordinator
of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Ekiti, Mr
Niyi Adedipe, Mr Sola Adenijo, among others.
They were detained over the deaths of Mr Ayo
Jeje and Chief Omolafe Aderiye, the ex-
Chairman of the National Union of Rod
Trasnort Workers in Ekiti.
However, the governor could not ensure the
release of the inmates as the Chief Judge of
the state, Justice Daramola, advised that due
process be followed before he can veto their
release.
“My hands are tied because I have to follow
due process. Left to me, I would have loved to
release all inmates,” Fayose said.
“We will definitely pardon some inmates but
we have to follow due process. We must have
the facts and figures before vetoing their
release. We have come to see the facilities in
the prisons and see how we can help. We
have seen the facilities here and we are not
happy.
“The buildings here houses almost 200 people
but whatever their offences they are still
entitled to good condition of living.
“We therefore appeal to the Federal
Government to upgrade the facilities available
for prison inmates in the state here.
“The walls surrounding the prison are
vulnerable, that was why we experienced the
last time prison break, but that would not
happen again. As a state government, we will
support the prison with an
additional building, a borehole, health facilities
and toilet facilities.
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