Some Nigerians , on Wednesday , demanded justice for a former inmate of the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos , Idris Saula , saying all those who had hands in his unjust incarceration for six years must be brought to justice .
They also called for investigation into the cases of other inmates , who might be suffering for crimes they did not commit .
Insidesources magazine had reported that the 36 – year -old Saula was arrested in 2014 during a raid , while he was working at a construction site at Sangotedo , Ajah , Lagos .
While those arrested along with him were released after allegedly paying N 50 ,000 each for bail to policemen from the Ajiwe Police Division , Saula was transferred to the Special Anti -Robbery Squad office , where he spent over five months.
He was later arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates ’ Court for robbery and remanded in prison .
A year after his detention , the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions reportedly issued legal advice absolving him of all charges and ordering his release .
However , the police prosecutor was reported to have refused to take the advice to court, as the victim languished in jail for five more years .
He was never taken to court for trial until the intervention of a human rights lawyer , Femi Falana ( SAN ) , who secured his release .
Nigerians , who responded to the report on insidesources magazine , described the story as shocking .
They urged the victim to sue for damages .
A reader with the alias, Robin Hood , wrote , “What a story ! This is typical of this our Nigeria . People suffer for nothing and some have their lives wasted just because they could not bribe our law enforcement agents . On the other hand, many criminals get away with crimes because they successfully bribe the system . How can and why should God not be angry at us , as a society? No wonder we’re falling fast as a people !”
According to Dacosta, another reader , there are many Saulas in detention who need help , adding that the country ’s criminal system was corrupt and only serve the rich and powerful .
A poster , Ademola Adeyemi , wrote , “I have never seen a bunch of heartless people like Nigerian Police . I feel like crying reading this story . In fact , they should remove the signpost ‘ Bail is Free’ from all police stations in Nigeria , because in actual fact , it is never obtained free . The police should at least save its face by fishing out people involved in this scandal and dismiss them .”
While many readers cursed policemen in the country , one Arkhuma said the prisons service and lawyers should also be blamed .
“It ’s not only our police system that is wicked , but also the prisons service , which has no way of following up on inmate status in court, and our greedy lawyers , who delight in milking the poor to intervene on their behalf against a dysfunctional criminal justice system ,” he commented .
A reader with the alias, Ponmo, queried why the Lagos State Ministry of Justice did not send the legal advice to the court.
“If the DPP issued legal advice , the DPP office should also have a return system where the actions taken by prosecutors on the DPP’ s advice would be reviewed i .e . has the DPP’s advice been complied with ?” the person wrote .
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana , said he would call back our correspondent to react .
He had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report .
