Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, has ordered the release of 67 inmates from various correctional facilities as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding. This initiative saw 35 inmates released from the Sagamu Custodial Centre, 20 from the Oba facility, and 12 from the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta.
During the release event at the Oba Custodial Centre, Justice Dipeolu emphasized that periodic jail reviews are a key responsibility of her office aimed at decongesting prisons. Many of the freed inmates were released on health and compassionate grounds, with some having been in custody since 2017 without trial.
“There is no reason to keep them here, feeding them with taxpayers’ money, when they can return to society,” she stated, highlighting that some case files were missing or no longer active.
Justice Dipeolu urged the released inmates to behave responsibly, warning them about the consequences of returning to crime. “They should avoid anything that could bring them back here,” she cautioned.
Abioye Adesina, the Controller of the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, thanked the Chief Judge for this initiative, noting that many released inmates had received vocational training and encouraged them to utilize these skills for positive contributions to society.
