Ogun Judiciary Orders Release of 29 Inmates, Intensifies Push for Broader Prison Reforms

In a fresh bid to tackle chronic overcrowding in correctional facilities, the Chief Judge of Ogun State has ordered the release of 29 detainees from the Abeokuta Custodial Centres, marking the latest step in sustained efforts to ease pressure on prison infrastructure.

The inmates, held on various pending cases were freed following careful judicial review, which identified them as eligible for release under existing legal frameworks designed to combat prolonged detentions and reduce congestion in holding facilities.

The move highlights growing concern over the challenges faced by Nigeria’s prison system, where delays in trial processes and limited space have led to overcrowded conditions Nationwide.

Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, Ogun State’s Chief Judge, underscored the urgency of expanding decongestion initiatives during the Friday, December 15 2025 exercise. She reiterated calls for enhanced collaboration between the Judiciary, Correctional Authorities, and Government Agencies to broaden the support structures available to justice-system stakeholders.

The practice of periodic “jail delivery” or review exercises in Ogun State has seen similar actions before. In late 2024, Justice Dipeolu granted amnesty to 14 inmates as part of an ongoing effort to reduce the prison population.

Nigeria’s wider prison decongestion reform has included federal and state measures — such as the relaying of custodial centres outside urban cores, court case audits, and clemency on humanitarian grounds — aiming to address the systemic clogging of correctional facilities across the country.

For example, the Federal Government approved the relocation of 29 correctional centres Nationwide to modernise the penal system and improve inmate welfare.

Critics of the current justice infrastructure say overcrowded facilities not only strain resources but undermine human dignity and rehabilitation.

They urge further investment in court capacity, case tracking technology, and alternative sentencing to ensure fair and timely justice.

Advocates also emphasise community reintegration for freed inmates to reduce recidivism and support societal safety.

As the Ogun judiciary intensifies these reforms, authorities are calling for sustained policy engagement and expanded correctional facilities to make decongestion more effective and long-term.