Lagos -The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande,Wednesday, granted pardon to seven prison inmates at the Ikoyi Prison.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN,  reports that the amnesty was part of activities marking the 2011 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch.

Those freed included Ayuba Isiaka, Sunday Jonah, Emerson Timothy, Kazeem Lawrence, Olatokunbo Otutulorun, Idris Musa and Alaba Olofin.

Speaking during a visit to the prison, Akande noted that the release of the inmates would help to decongest the prison.

She said some of the inmates, who were remanded in prison custody for minor offences, could also not meet their bail conditions.

The chief judge reiterated the commitment of the judiciary to quick dispensation of justice, noting that substantial progress was being made on the problems of inmates awaiting trial.

“We have made tremendous progress on account of that. We have reached out to the Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions to see where the problem lies.

“We are tackling the problem and we are meeting to find solutions to it,’’Akande said.

She assured the prison authorities of support particularly in the area of justice administration and commended the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, for facilitating the visit.

In his address of welcome, an Assistant Comptroller of Prisons, Mr Usman Aliu, disclosed that the prison currently had 1,590 inmates awaiting trial and 109 convicted ones.