Breaking the Chains: Justice Dipeolu orders release of 67 long-held inmates

In a decisive move to decongest Ogun State’s overcrowded correctional centres, the Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has ordered the release of 67 inmates who had been in prolonged custody without trial or meaningful progress in their cases.

The jail delivery exercise, conducted on Thursday, led to the freedom of 35 inmates from the Sagamu Custodial Centre, 20 from Oba, and 12 from the Ibara facility in Abeokuta.

Speaking at the Oba custodial centre, Justice Dipeolu emphasized that the periodic review forms part of her constitutional duty and is aimed at restoring justice and fairness to a flawed system.

“This jail delivery exercise is part of the Chief Judge’s mandate to ease the burden on our custodial centres,” she stated. “Some of these individuals have been in custody since 2017, 2019, or 2020, with no legal action taken because their case files have either gone missing or prosecution has stalled.”

She explained that many of the released inmates were considered on health or compassionate grounds, having been detained for years without active prosecution.

“There’s no justification for keeping them locked up indefinitely, consuming taxpayer resources without due process. Let them return to society and try to rebuild their lives,” she added.

Justice Dipeolu also cautioned the freed individuals to stay away from crime, urging them to take this second chance seriously. “They may not be this lucky next time,” she warned.

The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the Chief Judge’s intervention, describing it as a timely and humane response to the state’s correctional challenges.

“This is indeed a humanitarian gesture that will go a long way in alleviating the issue of overcrowding,” Adesina said. He further noted that many of the released inmates had acquired vocational training during their time in custody and encouraged them to use their skills to contribute positively to society.