The Lagos State Prison Watch has offered free legal services to awaiting-trial inmates in the Badagry prisons to facilitate their release as well as aid decongestion of the facility which is presently overstretched and overcrowded.

The Prison Watch team, comprising of state counsels from Lagos State Citizens’ Right, Office of The Public Defender (OPD), and Community Service, also advocated for minor and first offenders to be given community service option instead of being jailed for trivial offences.

This advocacy for community service, according to Mrs. Clara Ibirogba, Director of Citizens Rights, Ministry of Justice and Head of the Lagos State Prison Watch team, will help effectively in decongesting the prisons.

Ibirogba expressed displeasure at the situation of some prisons in the State, adding that facilities for the prisoners in Badagry are inadequate due to overpopulation.

She said: “State counsels from the OPD shall be offering free legal services to indigent inmates who cannot afford the services of a lawyer, to facilitate their release through the courts, as this will aid in decongesting the prisons.”

A representative of the Deputy Controller of Prison, Mr. Emmanuel Olaitan, commended the State government for its constant support to the welfare of Prisoners and appealed for continued assistance to the facility.