By Demilade Michael
Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has granted amnesty to three inmates, as part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities across the state.
The trio, Joseph Apan, Nureni Oladosu and Babatunde Fagbayi, were released during prison visit to the Ilaro Correctional Centre, in Yewa South local government area of the State.
Justice Dipeolu, who was accompanied by Judges, Director of Public Prosecution, management and officials, including the Controller and Assistant Controller, Correctional Centre, said the exercise would further decongest the facility.
She decried the dire conditions plaguing correctional facilities, saying, "we cannot afford to have deaths on our hands due to overcrowding".
"The conditions here at the correctional centre have not improved. It is evident that overcrowding is rampant, even without official statistics. This overcrowding particularly concerns those awaiting trial, as they suffer without having been found guilty".
Promising swift action against decongestion, the Chief Judge noted that while courts work to expedite cases, she added that the root cause of congestion must be addressed.
She said that some individuals had been awaiting trial since 2018, a situation, which according to her, was unacceptable.
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