Man Spends 10 Yrs in Prison Over 5 Tubers of Yam

Nigerian Tribune
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Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti (Nigeria):
Mr. Isaiah Jimoh’s case presents an ugly side of Nigeria’s judicial system. He was accused of stealing five tubers of yam in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital. Upon his conviction, stringent bail conditions were imposed, he was unable to meet the conditions, hence his 10-year-sojourn in Ado- Ekiti prison.
His story was one the several ludicrous cases exposed by the last December gubernatorial visit of Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to Ado-Ekiti prison where the governor celebrated Christmas with the inmates. Gov. Fayose in an attempt to put smile on the faces of the inmates decided to interact with the prisoners with a view to knowing why they are in the prison. It was during this interactive session that the governor was given several unbelievable stories, culminating into undeserved maltreatment and unjustifiable remanding of accused in the prison, in the name of awaiting trial.
With this awaiting trial syndrome, many Nigerians were and are still languishing in various prisons thereby over-populating the prison yard capacity.
Jan 29, 2006