Ogun Chief Justice Releases 29 Inmates to Ease Prison Overcrowding, Calls for Improved Facilities

Table of Contents

1. Inmates Released
2. Remarks from the Chief Judge
3. Judicial Reforms Needed
4. Decongestion Exercise Announcement
5. Concerns Over Increased Crime

At least 29 inmates from the correctional facilities in Abeokuta have regained their freedom as part of initiatives aimed at reducing overcrowding in the state’s custodial centers.

The inmates, consisting of 23 from the New Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Oba, and six from the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, were released on Monday.

During the jail delivery event, Chief Judge Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu emphasized that this initiative serves as an opportunity to review cases, expedite justice delivery, address prolonged pre-trial detention, and facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals into society.

She expressed concern that the five correctional facilities in the state are severely overcrowded, stressing the importance of regular jail delivery exercises, the implementation of non-custodial sentences for minor offenses, restitution and compensation to victims, and other judicial reforms to tackle this issue.

Justice Dipeolu asserted that despite these challenges, the judicial system is committed to upholding values and ensuring that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, receives equitable treatment under the law.

“Regular jail delivery exercises, the implementation of non-custodial sentences for minor offenses, restitution and compensation to victims, along with other judicial reforms, are crucial for maintaining the integrity and efficiency of our justice administration,” she noted.

It is noteworthy that the Ogun State Judiciary had announced plans to conduct a comprehensive decongestion exercise at the Sagamu Correctional Center from Monday, November 24, 2025, to Friday, December 5, 2025.

This intervention week will focus on expedited hearings, reviewing eligible cases, and considering matters suitable for non-custodial measures in accordance with applicable laws.

Justice Dipeolu revealed that at the end of this exercise, 187 inmates were released from the Sagamu Correctional Centre.

She stated, “We had an intervention week at Sagamu where eight magistrates worked from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm for a week to alleviate prison congestion, resulting in the release of about 187 inmates from Sagamu. This has significantly reduced the number of inmates there.”

The Chief Judge, while lamenting the rise in crime rates, urged the state government to construct additional facilities, emphasizing that jail delivery exercises alone are insufficient to alleviate the overcrowding in correctional centers.

“It’s a societal issue; crime rates are escalating daily. We have a significant number of cases in court—each judge in Ogun State has at least three hundred cases in their docket, and as we work, more cases continue to arise.

“Therefore, we need government intervention. The jail delivery exercise alone will not suffice to ease the congestion in correctional centers; we require more facilities, and expansion can only be achieved through government action.”

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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