356 Inmates Regain Freedom in Ogun, Chief Judge Urges Government Action on Prison Congestion
No fewer than 356 inmates have regained their freedom through jail delivery exercises conducted across Ogun State between 2024 and December 2025.
Delivering this update at the opening of the latest Jail Delivery Exercise held at the Ceremonial Court of the Judiciary Complex, Olipakala Village, Abeokuta, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Modupe Dipeolu, underscored that the exercise is not an act of benevolence but a constitutional duty.
Justice Dipeolu reaffirmed the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to protecting personal liberty and enforcing constitutional safeguards. She described jail delivery as one of the most critical judicial mechanisms for: safeguarding the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights and preventing justice from being undermined by delay, neglect, or procedural inertia
She stressed that the justice system must embody fairness, equity, rehabilitation, and respect for human dignity, rather than being reduced to a mere instrument of punishment.
Quoting renowned jurists, the Chief Judge warned against prolonged pre‑trial detention, noting that indefinite incarceration without trial erodes public confidence in the justice system.
She cited Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty, describing it as “mandatory and binding on all authorities.” She further noted that this guarantee is reinforced by international instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, domesticated in Nigeria.
“Our courts have consistently held that liberty is the rule, while detention is the exception,” she said, referencing recent Court of Appeal decisions that declared detention beyond constitutionally permissible limits unlawful.
Providing updates, Justice Dipeolu disclosed that continuous jail delivery exercises and intervention week sittings by magistrates had facilitated the release of 356 inmates across five correctional centres in Ogun State.
On 15th December 2025, 29 inmates were released from the Oba and Ibara Correctional Centres. While on 17th December 2025, 11 inmates were released: Sagamu Custodial Centre – 5, Ijebu‑Ode Custodial Centre – 2, Ibara Custodial Centre – 1, Ilaro Custodial Centre – 3
She lamented that the number of inmates released is more than twice the capacity of Sagamu Custodial Centre, which stands at 150.
An Intervention Week is also ongoing in Ilaro, where eight designated magistrates are handling selected criminal cases to further decongest the facility.
“These figures represent more than mere statistics; they signify restored liberty, reunited families, and the reaffirmation of constitutional values,” she said.
Addressing inmates who regained freedom, Justice Dipeolu reminded them that liberty comes with responsibility, urging them to live law‑abiding lives.
She commended the Sub‑Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres—comprising the judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Correctional Service, Legal Aid Council, police, and civil society organisations—for their dedication to strengthening justice delivery.
Justice Dipeolu urged stakeholders to remain steadfast in upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and the dignity of the human person.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen, felt, and trusted by the people it serves,” she declared.
Finally, she called on government to invest in additional correctional facilities as a lasting solution to overcrowding, noting that while quarterly jail delivery exercises are constitutionally mandated, they cannot by themselves resolve the systemic challenges without infrastructural expansion.
