Chief Judge Calls for Expansion of Ogun Prison Facilities, Worried Over Condition of Inmates
Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has asked federal government to improve conditions in the custodial centers in order to avoid unnecessary death of inmates, while their cases are being disposed off in courts.
She called for the expansion of the centers to cope with the rising cases of crimes in the society.
The chief judge noted that despite moves by the judiciary to promptly dispose off cases, the custodial centers are still congested.
She spoke on the issue on Monday, during her jail delivery visit to the Ilaro Custodial Centre, where she freed two of the inmates.
The freed inmates are Oladosu Nureni and Babatunde Fagbayi, charged for murder and armed robbery in 2018 and 2019.
The chief judge expressed concern over the condition under which inmates were cramped into rooms in dilapidated condition.
Justice Dipeolu said the condition in the prison would facilitate the spread of diseases among its inmates.
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She blamed delay in cases in courts on the failure of witnesses, especially in rape cases to appear, shortage of vehicles to bring inmates to courts and non-presentation of defendants in courts.
The chief judge continues her 2024 jail delivery exercise today to the Ibara and Oba Correctional centers in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the event, the Controller, Correctional Centre, Mr. Saliu Adepoju, appreciated the Chief Judge and her entourage for the exercise and for upholding the ethics of the judiciary, saying that the exercise would go a long way to impact the welfare of the inmates.
Earlier in January 2024, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, signed the release of 14 inmates selected from across the six correctional centres in the state.
Sule said the exercise was carried out after due consultations with the state Advisory Council on the prerogative of mercy, to ensure due compliance with the law and to avoid negative impacts.
