Ogun CJ pardons 14 inmates to decongest correctional facilities

Mosunmola Dipeolu, the chief judge of Ogun, has granted amnesty to 14 inmates as part of efforts to decongest the state’s correctional centres.

Speaking in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Friday, Dipeolu said the inmates granted amnesty had been in custody for years over offences ranging from rape, armed robbery, and kidnapping, among others.

The CJ said the pardon underscores the state’s commitment to maintain the rule of law and ensure justice, fairness, and rehabilitation.

She said the exercise also served as a crucial component in the justice system to review cases, expedite justice, and rehabilitate inmates.

“Most importantly, it serves to promote and reintegrate into society individuals who have faced lengthy pre-trial detention,” she said.

“In recent years, we have witnessed challenges within our justice system, including overcrowding in correctional facilities and delays in court proceedings caused by many factors.”

The CJ said the challenges within the justice system required urgent attention and innovative solutions, citing the periodic jail delivery exercise, awarding of non-custodial sentences for minor offences, restitution, and compensation to victims of crimes as some of the proffered solutions.

She said the exercise represented another step towards addressing the challenges in compliance with the constitutional duty of her office as the state’s CJ.

“This allows me to review cases and identify those ready for release, particularly inmates with prolonged detention or serious health issues,” she said.

She said the system would promote reintegration rather than mere punishment for inmates with prolonged stays in custody without their cases being determined within the time frame stipulated by the law.

Dipeolu admonished the freed inmates to make the best use of the amnesty by shunning crime and criminal activities capable of bringing them back to prison.