By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
After years of languishing behind bars without trial, 67 inmates in Ogun State walked free on Thursday following an intervention by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu.
The release, part of a routine jail delivery exercise, spotlighted the deep flaws in Nigeria’s criminal justice system where prolonged detention without prosecution has become a silent crisis in overcrowded correctional facilities.
During the exercise, 35 inmates were freed from Sagamu Custodial Centre, 20 from Oba, and 12 from Ibara in Abeokuta. Many had been locked up since 2017, 2019, and 2020, with their case files missing or prosecution stalled.
Justice Dipeolu, addressing officials at the Oba centre, lamented the injustice of keeping individuals detained without active court proceedings. “There’s no justification for keeping them locked up indefinitely, consuming taxpayer resources without due process,” she said. “Let them return to society and try to rebuild their lives.”
The Chief Judge explained that her decision was based on both legal and humanitarian considerations, noting that some of the inmates had health challenges or were victims of prolonged legal neglect. She urged the freed individuals to shun crime and embrace the opportunity to start anew. “They may not be this lucky next time,” she warned.
Reacting to the release, Ogun State Correctional Service Controller, Abioye Adesina, described the gesture as timely and compassionate.
“This is a humanitarian act that addresses the overcrowding in our custodial centres. Many of the freed inmates have acquired vocational skills while in custody and are now equipped to contribute positively to society,” he said.