Justice Dipeolu Seeks Faster Trials To Decongest Ogun Correctional Centres

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has called for faster prosecution of criminal cases as a key step towards decongesting correctional centres and safeguarding the rights of awaiting-trial inmates in the state.

Justice Dipeolu spoke with journalists at the Ogun State Judiciary Complex, Kobape, Abeokuta, at the end of a two-day jail delivery exercise, where a total of 40 inmates were released from various correctional centres across the state.

She identified delays in the issuance of legal advice by the Ministry of Justice and in filing information before the courts as major factors driving congestion in correctional facilities and prolonging pre-trial detention. According to her, such systemic delays stall the prosecution of cases, keep suspects in custody for longer than necessary and, in many instances, frustrate the course of justice.

Justice Dipeolu warned that when criminal cases drag on for years, witnesses often relocate, become difficult to trace or lose interest in appearing before the courts, thereby weakening the prosecution’s case and sometimes forcing the state to free suspects not because they are proven innocent, but because the evidence has collapsed with time. She described this as “a disservice both to victims and to the justice system”.

“The administration of justice must be fair, timely and humane,” she said, stressing that any justice system worthy of public trust must reflect fairness, equity, rehabilitation and respect for human dignity. She noted that prolonged pre-trial detention offends the constitutional presumption of innocence and erodes citizens’ confidence in the courts and law-enforcement agencies.

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While acknowledging ongoing efforts by the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Correctional Service to improve case management, Justice Dipeolu urged all stakeholders in the criminal justice chain — including investigators, prosecutors, defence counsel and prison authorities — to give priority to the prompt handling of case files and legal advice. She maintained that only a coordinated approach could deliver an efficient, humane and responsible justice system in Ogun State.

Justice Dipeolu also addressed the released inmates, charging them to return to their communities, reintegrate with their families and commit themselves to lawful and productive ventures. She advised them to take their release as an opportunity to rebuild their lives rather than return to crime.

The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Abioye Kamoru, said the command was already putting measures in place to support a smooth transition for those freed during the exercise. He explained that the service would continue to work with relevant agencies and community structures to assist the released inmates with reintegration and to reduce the risk of reoffending.

At the end of the two-day jail delivery exercise, 40 inmates were discharged from the Oba, Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and Ilaro correctional centres. Many of those released had spent long periods in detention over minor offences or due to stalled legal processes.

Jail delivery exercises are periodic statutory interventions during which judges review the cases of inmates, particularly those on remand, to identify situations of unnecessary delay, procedural irregularities or clear violations of rights. In recent years, such exercises have become a vital tool in tackling overcrowding in Nigeria’s correctional facilities and in enforcing constitutional safeguards for persons awaiting trial.

Justice Dipeolu reiterated that the ultimate goal is not merely to empty the cells, but to ensure that justice is dispensed without undue delay, in a manner that protects society, respects victims and upholds the rights of suspects. She appealed for sustained political will and institutional collaboration to address bottlenecks in investigations, prosecution and trial processes in Ogun State.