OGUN CJ INAUGURATES COMMITTEE ON DECONGESTION OF CORRECTIONAL CENTRES

By Oluwayemisi Oloyede

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has inaugurated a five-man Sub-Committee on decongestion of various Correctional Service Centres across the State.

Justice Dipeolu while inaugurating the Committee at the conference hall of the Judiciary Complex in Abeokuta, said part of its duties would include, collation of relevant data on inmates, compilation of data on the offences for which the detainees are being held, implementation and enforcement of laws that relate to trial or post convictions in terms of bail, probation and community services, among others.

The Chief Judge said several efforts had been put in place to decongest the State Correctional Centres in the past, submitting that “the issue becomes a virus that refused to vacate the criminal justice system”.

She noted that part of the moves to tackle congestion of the Centres when she became the Chief Judge of the State was the seven-point agenda which centred on the quick and effective dispensation of justice, saying the congestion was hinged on several factors which include, the workload of High and Magistrate courts, dearth of manpower, the inability of the Correctional Service Centres to constantly convey inmates to various courts alongside several other inundating factors.

The Chief Judge added that recently, the challenges had been resolved through the creation of new High and Magistrate courts at different judicial divisions and magisterial districts, the appointment of new judges and magistrates, creation of specialised courts such as the Small Claims Court, among others were created to handle all custody matters, in order to tackle logistic issues in the Centres.

Justice Dipeolu pointed out that the advent of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other Related Matters Law (ACJL), 2017 had also played a significant role in a bid to decongest the correctional facilities across the State. She added that jail delivery exercises had also been held quarterly in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, urging the Committee members to work assiduously, so as to achieve the laid down objectives.

Speaking on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the Committee, Justice Catherine Ogunsanya said the assignment was an opportunity to serve the State, promising to deliver accordingly.

Others members include the Secretary, Mr. Tosin Okikiolu, Miss Oluwatoyin Sonoiki, CSP. Charles Akinrosoye and DCC. James Ogunmoyede.