DECONGESTION OF CORRECTIONAL CENTRES: OGUN CHIEF JUDGE INAUGURATES FIVE-MAN SUB-COMMITTE

High Court 5 Ota Remote Sitting Before Justice E. A. Fabamwo
February 18, 2022
High Court 5 Ota Remote Sitting Before Justice E. A. Fabamwo
February 26, 2022
High Court 5 Ota Remote Sitting Before Justice E. A. Fabamwo
February 18, 2022
High Court 5 Ota Remote Sitting Before Justice E. A. Fabamwo
February 26, 2022

As part of moves to reduce overcrowding of inmates in the Nigerian Correctional Centres across Ogun State, the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has again inaugurated a five-man Sub-Committee on decongestion of Nigerian Correctional Centres for positive contribution of Criminal Justice System in the State.

Addressing the Sub-Committee at the State Judiciary Complex in Abeokuta, the Chief Judge disclosed that the inauguration is part of his Lordship Seven Point agenda at ensuring quick dispensation of Justice in the State.

Adding that the congestion at the various Correctional Centres across the State has become a cankerworm and a clog in the wheel of justice delivery noting that it is a virus that refused to vacate the Criminal Justice System in the State despite all the efforts put into it.

The Chief Judge said to tackle the problematic issues of congestion of the Correctional Centres in the State, the creation of new High Courts and Magistrate Court at different Judicial Divisions and Magisterial districts, appointment of new Judges and Magistrates, creation of Specialised Courts and Prison Courts have been among the steps taken to ameliorate the situation.

Hon. Justice Dipeolu also asserted that since his Lordship became the Chief Judge of the State in 2018, Jail Delivery exercise has been held quarterly despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, emphasizing that “over four hundred (400) awaiting trial inmates have been released so far.

His Lordship said, the Sub-Committee is to oversee the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other related Matters Law (ACJL), 2017 directives to fast track decongestion of the correctional centres in the State.

The Chief Judge noted that ” Section 3 of the ACJL provides that the purpose of this law is to ensure that the system of administration of Criminal Justice in Ogun State promote efficient management of Criminal Justice Institutions, Speedy dispensation of justice, Protection of the Society from Crime and Protection of the rights and interests of the suspects, the defendants and the Victim”

Charging the Sub-Committee on diligence, Hon. Justice Dipeolu implored them to see this duty as a call to service, admonishing them to work assiduously by not allowing sentiment and other ulterior motives to derail their focus.

The newly Inaugurated Sub-Committee comprises of Hon. Justice Catherine Ogunsanya (Chairman), Mr Tosin Okikiolu, a Magistrate (Secretary), Miss Oluwatoyin Sonoiki (Assistant Director, Public Prosecution, Ogun State Ministry of Justice) CSP Charles Akinrosoye (Officer in Charge of the Legal Dept. of the Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command) and DCC. James Ogunmoyede (Deputy Controller of Correctional service Centre, Ogun State).

The Chairman of the newly inaugurated Sub-Committee, , Hon. Justice Catherine Ogunsanya while speaking on behalf of other members pledged the committee’s commitment to work effectively towards assisting the Chief Judge administration’s Seven Point Agenda on Decongestion of the Correctional Centres across the State.

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