The Comptroller of Corrections, Lagos State Command, Mr Adewale Adebisi, on Thursday said there were 6,800 inmates awaiting trial in the five correctional facilities in the state.
Adebisi disclosed this while speaking at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre, Lagos State, during a plea bargain session.
The session was spearheaded by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice as part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities in the state.
The five correctional facilities in Lagos are Ikoyi, Kirikiri (Female), Kirikiri (Medium), Kirikiri (Maximum) and Badagry correctional centres, NAN reports.
“In Lagos, we have a total of 8,000 incarcerated inmates in the correctional facilities, out of which a total of 6,800 inmates are awaiting trial.
“Some of these awaiting trial inmates have been standing trial in the courts for long.
“We have some who have been on trial for between 10 and 12 years,” he said.
Adebisi, however attributed much congestion of correctional facilities in Lagos to high level of migration into the metropolis which contributed to a high crime rate.