Over 1,200 Inmates Await Trial at Agodi Custodial Centre

Woli Arole laments high number of awaiting trial inmates in Oyo

• Over 1,200 inmates at Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan, are awaiting trial.
• Founder of Friends’ Fellowship International, Oluwatoyin Bayekun, raised concerns during a visit.
• He urged the Federal Government to address the challenges faced by inmates and correctional facilities.

In an interview with Ekohotblog on Thursday, Oluwatoyin Bayekun, popularly known as Woli Arole, highlighted the poor conditions at the Agodi Custodial Centre in Oyo State after donating items to the inmates. He emphasized the urgent need for reforms to improve the welfare of both inmates and staff.

Bayekun noted that many inmates across Nigeria, including 1,200 at Agodi, are stuck in legal limbo, awaiting trials for prolonged periods. He stressed the importance of giving them hope and support, calling on the government to prioritize their rights and the state of correctional facilities.

“Our goal is to share hope, love, and happiness. Inmates and their caregivers need attention too,” Bayekun said. “We’re here to make a positive impact beyond preaching and to bring real solutions to their challenges.”

Through his initiative, Hope Beyond Walls, Bayekun pledged to support bailable inmates by hiring lawyers to handle their cases at no cost. He also expressed a commitment to expanding this outreach to correctional centers nationwide and possibly beyond Nigeria.

Here is the video of the week