Ondo Chief Judge frees 12 more awaiting-trial inmates

By Boye Oyeyemi –

As part of an ongoing initiative to ease congestion in correctional facilities across Ondo State, the Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, has ordered the release of 12 inmates awaiting trial at the Medium Custodial Facility in Owo, Owo Local Government Area.

The latest release followed a similar gesture earlier at the Olokuta Medium Prison, where Justice Odusola granted freedom to five other inmates.

The exercise forms part of his second phase of routine inspection visits aimed at promoting justice and protecting human rights within the state’s criminal justice system.

In his remarks, Justice Odusola noted the critical need to address prison overcrowding, stressing the urgency of releasing individuals who have been detained for extended periods without trial.

He explained that his visits are meant to spotlight and resolve issues surrounding access to justice, particularly the widespread delays in prosecution largely caused by insufficient legal representation.

According to the Chief Judge, many of the inmates released had endured prolonged, unlawful detention due to either administrative lapses or lack of diligent prosecution from the courts or the Department of Public Prosecutions. Some were also freed on compassionate grounds.

“The need to decongest prisons made it imperative to release some inmates who had been in custody for many years without trial,” he said.

Justice Odusola, while touring the facility, expressed concern over its deteriorating condition and the plight of the inmates, calling for immediate intervention from the federal government to upgrade correctional infrastructure.