The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, has urged recently freed ex-convicts to avoid bad company, social vices, and criminal behavior that could lead them back to prison.
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Justice Majebi gave the advice while receiving some of the ex-convicts who benefitted from a solar installation training sponsored by the Idewole Foundation. He commended the Foundation for its commitment to rehabilitating the former inmates and equipping them with skills for self-sustenance.
It will be recalled that the Idewole Foundation, in collaboration with Hon. Halidu Adejoh, Chairman of the Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Justice and Legal Matters, partnered with the Chief Judge during a recent custodial decongestion exercise. The Foundation paid the fines of some convicts, facilitating their release, and later enrolled willing individuals in a three-month skills acquisition program in Abuja.
At the end of the training, each participant received ₦300,000 as startup capital. The funds were disbursed through the judiciary to ensure proper management. The ex-convicts visited the Chief Judge to express appreciation and collect the funds.
Following a plea by the Foundation, the judiciary coordinated the participation of mostly teenage ex-convicts in the training to aid their reintegration and personal development.
Justice Majebi emphasized parental responsibility and specifically called on the absentee father of one of the boys to step up and take responsibility for his son, who had been abandoned even after his release. According to reports, the father, who resides in Aiyetoro, claimed past arrests linked to the boy as the reason for his continued absence.
“The father must face his responsibility, especially now that the boy has been rehabilitated and is eager to put his newly acquired skills to good use,” the CJ stated.
Earlier, Barr. Olurunshola Toba, Deputy Chief Registrar (Magistracy), who coordinated the training on behalf of the High Court, reported a noticeable transformation in the ex-convicts. “They completely changed after the program,” he said.
Toba, who liaised with the families, the Foundation, and the judiciary throughout the training, disclosed that the ex-convicts were well-behaved and focused during the program. However, he raised concerns about one of the boys whose parents refused to take him back. The father allegedly said he had “dashed” the boy to the government.
“After the prison visit, forms were distributed for those interested in skill acquisition. Only a few showed interest. Six of them were taken to Abuja. Last month, I was called to represent their families during the presentation of the ₦300,000 startup fund, out of which ₦50,000 was earmarked for purchasing solar installation equipment,” Toba explained.
“I asked one of the boys whose father had disowned him what he planned to do. He said he wanted to give the money to his parents, but I refused, citing the risk of misusing the funds. After his release, neither parent showed up, and he remained in prison until the training began. His aunt eventually stepped in and signed for him.”
Toba further revealed that despite his attempts to engage the aunt and the boy’s biological mother, neither appeared to claim the funds responsibly. “I eventually asked the boy to return to Aiyetoro to reach his mother, but no one has contacted me since,” he said.
Hon. Justice Abdul Awulu, the second-highest-ranking judicial officer in the Kogi State Judiciary, condemned the rejection of the boy by his parents and warned that such abandonment could attract legal consequences. He called on the Directorates of Magistracy and Establishment and Training to liaise with relevant government agencies to ensure the boy’s welfare.
Meanwhile, two other guardians — an uncle and a widow — who accompanied their respective wards, expressed gratitude to the CJ and the Foundation. They confirmed marked behavioral changes in the boys and pledged to use the funds as intended.
Justice Majebi directed that the rejected boy’s money be safely kept until someone appears with him to claim it, under strict guidance on its usage.
The CJ also appreciated the Idewole Foundation, Hon. Adejoh, and the House Committee on Judicial Matters for their roles in supporting the ex-convicts. He praised DCR Toba for his dedication and tireless coordination of the initiative.
Before the ex-convicts departed, the Chief Judge asked if they would like to return to prison. They all responded with a firm “no.” He then encouraged them to remain focused and committed to their new path.
One of the beneficiaries shared his experience, expressing joy at the opportunity to learn a valuable skill. “I can now install solar panels. Given the rising demand for alternative energy in Nigeria, I believe this will be a profitable business,” he said.
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