George, who looked trim and well fed, was dressed in a white kaftan with brown sandals. He held a private discussion with Adeboye for about three minutes during the cleric’s visit to the penitentiary.
Journalists were barred from taking photographs of both men during the meeting, which took place after Adeboye had ministered to inmates of the prison at a Christmas carol service.
George also held a brief discussion with the Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Sunday Ajayi, who accompanied Adeboye to the ministration.
An Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole had on October 26, 2009 sentenced George, who is a former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, and five others to two years imprisonment without an option of fine for alleged abuse of office and award of about N100bn contracts without due process.
During the service, Adeboye said he would pass the prisoners’ complaints to President Goodluck Jonathan, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande.
He cautioned Nigerians against indulging in criminal acts.
Adeboye also inaugurated a renovated chapel and a 22KVA generator for the prison and donated some items to the prisoners.
Responding to some prisoners’ requests to be pardoned, the cleric said he hoped that many of them would be released after his interaction with the government. He expressed hope that many of them could still be useful to the society when released.
Adeboye said, “I have my reasons for being keenly interested in what goes on here. I will take your case up again.
“I will take it to the President. I will take it to the governor of Lagos State. I will take it to the Chief Judge. I have done it before.
“When I did it the first time, they released hundreds. I am believing God they will do it again. So keep praying along with me. I will be your voice out there.
“Pray that the Almighty God will add weight to whatever I may say, so that the next time I come here, many of you will not be here. Out there, you will be very useful unto God.”
One of the inmates, Pastor Henry Okishie, said it was sad that some of them had not been released contrary to their expectations of being set free during the nation’s 50th independence anniversary.
He also said it was regrettable that many months after Fashola promised to provide succour to them, the governor was yet to fulfil his pledge.
Okishie, who is also a pastor at the Liberty Chapel, called on the government to set some of the inmates free, noting that many of them had spent many years in prison. He said some of the inmates had been in prison for over 27 years.
Addressing Adeboye, Okishie said, “We celebrated 50 years of independence and not one prisoner was set free. I know that in 2007, the current governor of Lagos State represented the former governor here in camp.
“In June or July, he sent forms to us that we should fill for people to be released during the 50th independence anniversary. Till today, not one inmate has been released.
“Now sir, you have spoken well; they will hear you. Whatever you tell them, they will give you an answer. The President of this nation, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, will listen to you. The governor of Lagos State will listen to you.”
“Please help us talk to them. There are so many people here who have repented and want to go home and re-unite with their families. A portion of the Bible talks about the consequences of not setting people free during jubilee.”
The Officer in charge of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Mr. Noel Ailewon, urged the government to collaborate with non-governmental and religious organisations and increase funding to prisons.
He stated that the decongestion of prisons would be achieved through speedy justice delivery, adding that many of the prisoners were desirous of being set free, especially those wrongly incarcerated.
“It is very natural for them to want to leave here. If you have been incarcerated for a long time, you want to have your freedom, particularly those who were wrongly incarcerated here. Definitely, they will feel a bit aggrieved and want to be freed,” he said.
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