Ogun CJ Grants 20 Inmates Amnesty
The Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has granted amnesty to 20 inmates across the three Senatorial Districts of the state as part of an effort to decongest Correctional Centres.
Speaking at the conference hall of the Judiciary Complex in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, during the release of the inmates, Dipeolu said 10 inmates were discharged in Abeokuta, two from Ijebu-Ode, seven from Ilaro and one from Sagamu Correctional Centres.
The Chief Judge noted that the inmates granted amnesty had been in custody for a certain number of years with different criminal offences, ranging from rape, armed robbery, kidnapping among others.
She, however, advised them not to go back into crime.
She said, “People keep filing cases as they are aware of their rights, that is why we keep increasing the number of judges as much as the State can afford.
“Also, we keep having sensitisation programmes for people to know their rights, as justice delayed is not what we want in the State.”
She stated that the exercise was held at the State High Court, instead of the usual visitation across the correctional centres in the State due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She promised that another phase of release would be done in the next four months.
On his part, the State Controller of Correctional Centre, Alimi Rasheed, said the Federal Government had intensified efforts to decongest the correctional centres in the state.
He appreciates the state government for its support in ensuring prompt justice dispensation.
The Executive Director, Center for Justice and Reconciliation, Hezekiah Olujobi, commended the initiative of the Chief Judge for conducting the exercise at the High Court, pointing out that the move was cost-effective, stress-free and time-saving.
