Eight babies are currently living in Kirikiri Female Prisons, Lagos, with their mothers, while nine inmates are pregnant, an official said on Thursday.
Director, Directorate of Citizens Rights (DCR), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Omotilewa lbirogba, disclosed this while leading officials on welfare check to the prison.
The visit was part of ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to decongest the prisons.
According to Mrs. lbirogba, there are currently 222 inmates in the prison.
She said: “Of the 222 inmates, 175 are awaiting trial, 43 convicted inmates, two inmates that are serving life sentences and two inmates who have been sentenced to death.
“There are also eight babies residing in the prison with their mothers, while nine inmates are currently pregnant.”
On the future of the eight babies, Ibirogba explained that the infants would be taken away from their mothers and handed over to appointed relations to nurture them once they are 24 months old.
The director added: “Our findings revealed that a lot of the inmates already have legal representations and have been granted bail by the courts but have not been able to perfect their bail conditions.
“There are plans by my directorate to provide free legal services to those whose cases are not going on well in the courts, while applications will be filed to vary bail conditions for those already granted bail by the courts.
“Contrary to what obtained in the past, the inmates looked neat, healthy, well fed and had no rashes on their bodies.”
