No fewer than 356 inmates at correctional facilities in Ogun State regained freedom in the last two years as part of efforts to decongest the state’s correctional centres.
The chief judge of the state, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the jail delivery exercise in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Ms Dipeolu stated that the inmates released cut across the five correctional centres in the state.
According to her, 29 inmates were released from Oba and Ibara correctional centres.
The CJ stressed that the exercise represented critical judicial mechanisms for safeguarding the rule of law, protecting fundamental rights, and ensuring that justice was not undermined by delay and neglect.
“The administration of justice must never be perceived solely as an instrument of punishment; rather, it must embody fairness, equity, rehabilitation, and respect for human dignity.
“A justice system that disregards personal liberty ultimately erodes its own legitimacy.
“An intervention week is currently ongoing in Ilaro, where eight designated magistrates are sitting over selected criminal cases in a sustained effort to decongest the Ilaro correctional centre,” she added.
Ms Dipeolu also said the figures represent more than mere statistics, as they signify restored liberty, reunited families, and the reaffirmation of constitutional values.
“This jail delivery exercise is neither an act of benevolence nor an indulgence of discretion but a constitutionally anchored judicial responsibility designed to review cases, eliminate unjustified detention, and reaffirm public trust in the justice system.
“It serves as a corrective mechanism through which the judiciary ensures that correctional facilities do not become warehouses for forgotten citizens,” she said.
Ms Dipeolu explained that it was important to remain resolute in the commitment to a justice system that is efficient, humane, and responsive.
The CJ urged all stakeholders to remain steadfast in upholding the supremacy of the constitution, the sanctity of personal liberty, 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 said.
(NAN)