A non-governmental organisation known as Real Acts of Kindness (RAK) has facilitated the release of six inmates of Badagry correctional centre by paying their fines.
Speaking at the Nigerian Correctional Services, Badagry Custodial Centre, Lagos, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Pioneer, RAK foundation, said his foundation had been coming yearly to facilitate freedom for the inmates since 2017.
“We were here in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 to pay fines of some inmates and set them free from the correctional centre.
“It is in the Bible and Qur’an that one should free people in bondage and that is what we have done today.
“The six inmates of this correctional centre have regained their freedom after we paid their fines and you can imagine the way they felt.
“This is the way we have chosen to celebrate Christmas and new year in RAK, I am happy and I feel proud about it,” Ogunlende said.
The Controller of the Correctional Centre, Assistant Comptroller, Mr Richard Sanni, said that 18 of the inmates were sentenced for wandering with options of fines.
“I have prayed to God to send well-meaning Nigerians to help with the payment of the fines so that they can celebrate Yuletide with their relatives.
“I was delighted when RAK foundation came and said they wanted to pay fines for six; three Moslems and three Christians.
“I am happy for them and pray that the other 12 will also get someone to pay for their freedom,” Sanni said.
He commended the foundation for facilitating the freedom of the inmates, adding that he was a God sent to them.
One of the inmates who regained freedom, Mr Henry Matthias, an indigene of Abia State, said he was sleeping in Aswani Market near Oshodi Lagos when he was arrested.
Matthias said he was taken to court and sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with an option of N10,000 fine before he knew what was happening.
“Since I don’t have money, I was transferred here to complete my sentence.
“It is a miracle from God that I am free today and I thank the pioneer of RAK foundation for setting me free,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the freed inmates were given start-up kits with T-shirts, slippers, caps, bread, soft drinks and others and a token for their transportation back to their base by the foundation.
NAN reports that the team also visited Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Homes and Hephzibah Homes of abandoned children, where the foundation distributed gifts to the children at the two homes.