Monarch laments state of prison inmates in Ondo state

The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo (Odundun II), has decried the dearth of infrastructural facilities and welfare of inmates imprisoned at the Medium Security Prison of the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), Ondo State Command, located at Olokuta, in the state’s capital.

The royal father was displease that the inmates have been neglected and treated very badly in custody of the medium security prison and lamented over the poor state of their condition.

Oba Aladetoyinbo was speaking during a one day working visit to the facility in Akure, the State capital recently.  He was conducted round the various cell rooms of the maximum prison by its top officials, led by the State Prison Controller, Amadin Osayande.

Accompanied by some high chiefs of the ancient town, the Monarch was dismayed at the short fall in the welfare conditions of the inmates, particularly that the prison lacks of portable drinking water for the need of the prisoners.

Oba Aladetoyinbo said the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has failed in its mandate, and primary aim of reforming the inmates due to the unwholesome conditions witnessed in the facility.

He expressed great surprise at how inmates groaned under the hot atmosphere in the facility which lack portable of water for their use among other welfare needs.

The Deji shocked at the living conditions of the inmates whom he learnt had spent many years in the deplorable prison facility awaiting trials in the various law courts of justice in the state.

He advised the inmates to see their place of confinement as a quarter of making restitution with God, by shunning their old way of life and becoming more responsible citizens in their various places when they are freed from prison.

Oba Aladetoyinbo sought the urgent support of charitable organisations and philanthropists in the state to assist in the improvement of the inmates’ welfare and needs.

In his response, the Controller of Prison, Mr. Amadin Osayande thanked the Monarch and his chiefs for visiting the prison facility with the sole aim of checking on the inmates and identifying with their welfare and conditions.

He told the August visitors that amongst the eight hundred and sixty three inmates imprisoned in the facility, majority of them are awaiting trials in the various law courts of justice in the state.

He further identified lack of pipe borne water, transportation system in terms of proper functioning vehicles, and other welfare package as main challenges confronting the state prison command.

Osayande pleaded with the Akure Monarch and his subjects to use their good influence in the society to invite richly blessed sons and daughters of the community to help salvage the living and welfare conditions of the prisoners.