Ogun Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has granted amnesty to 14 inmates as part of efforts to decongest the state correctional centres.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decongestion exercise was held on Friday at the State High Court Complex, Kobape, Abeokuta.
Dipeolu, while speaking at the exercise, noted that the released inmates had been in custody for some years with offences ranging from rape, armed robbery and kidnapping among others.
According to the CJ, the pardon serves to underline the state’s commitment to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring justice, fairness, and rehabilitation.
She said the exercise also served as a crucial component in the justice system to review cases, expedite justice and rehabilitate inmates.
“Most importantly, it serves to promote and reintegrate into society individuals who have faced lengthy pre-trial detention.
“In recent years, we have witnessed challenges within our justice system, including overcrowding in correctional facilities and delays in court proceedings caused by many factors,” she said.
She, however, said the challenges within the justice system required urgent attention and innovative solutions.
Dipeolu mentioned the periodic jail delivery exercise, awarding of non-custodial sentences for minor offences, restitution, and compensation to victims of crimes as some of the proffered solutions.
The CJ also said the exercise represented another step towards addressing the challenges in compliance with the constitutional duty of her office as the state CJ.
“This allows me to review cases and identify those ready for release, particularly inmates with prolonged detention or serious health issues,” she said.
She said the system would promote reintegration rather than mere punishment for inmates with prolonged stay in custody without their cases being determined within the time frame stipulated by the law.
Dipeolu, however, admonished the freed inmates to make the best use of the amnesty by shunning crime and criminal activities capable of bringing them back to prison. (NAN).
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