Detained ex-DIG gets bail

Yekini Jimoh, Ilorin - 14.02.2008

THE retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Yekini Jimoh, who was detained since last year for allegedly killing his wife, was on Wednesday granted bail by the acting Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Joseph Gbadeyan, on health grounds.

Justice Gbadeyan, who also released 17 inmates of Ilorin Prison and granted bail to six others, said based on the deteriorating condition of the health of the former DIG which required immediate medical attention, it was necessary to grant him bail so that he could seek medical treatment while his trial continued. He urged those released from prison to go home and learn a trade so that they could be useful to themselves and the society.

He warned those that were granted bail not to abuse the privilege given them by jumping bail, as he commended the prison officials for keeping the environment clean, adding that the last time he visited the prison was in the 1970s.

Justice Gbadeyan said it was clear that the judiciary did not have the facilities with which to prosecute cases, stressing that more magistrates courts would be created at Kosubou, Oro-Ago and Ijagbo areas of the state.

“Upper Area court at Akerebiate and Gerri-Alimi would also be created to reduce unnecessary delay of cases which resulted in congestion of Ilorin prison,” he said. He lauded the effort of the state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who visited the prison last year in an effort to decongest it.

Among those released were a woman and her 15-year-old son detained for stealing three cans of vegetable oil at Offa.