Ogun Chief Justice Orders Release of 67 Inmates to Ease Prison Overcrowding

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has ordered the release of 67 inmates from correctional facilities across the state as part of efforts to decongest the prisons.

A breakdown of the jail delivery exercise shows that 35 inmates were freed from the Sagamu Custodial Centre, 20 from Oba, and 12 from the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday at the Oba Custodial Centre during the exercise, Justice Dipeolu explained that the periodic jail review is one of the statutory responsibilities of her office and is aimed at reducing overcrowding in the state’s correctional facilities.

She said that the inmates were released on health and compassionate grounds, with some having spent several years in custody without trial or due to stalled prosecutions.

“Some of them have been in custody since 2017, 2019, or 2020, and their cases are no longer ongoing. In some instances, their case files can no longer be located. There is no point in keeping them here, feeding them with taxpayers’ money, when they can return to society and live meaningful lives,” she said.

The Chief Judge urged the freed inmates to conduct themselves responsibly, warning that they may not be as fortunate if they return to crime.

“I have urged them to be good citizens because we have their records. They should avoid anything that could bring them back here. They might not be lucky to get this kind of grace again,” she said.

Also speaking, the Controller of the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abioye Adesina, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge for the gesture, describing it as a welcome step toward addressing prison congestion.

He noted that many of the released inmates had received vocational training during their time in custody and encouraged them to use those skills to reintegrate and contribute positively to the nation’s socio-economic development.