Ondo chief judge orders release of 31 inmates to decongest prisons

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, has ordered the release of 31 inmates awaiting trial as part of efforts to decongest correctional centres in the state.

The release followed a two-day inspection of three facilities: Olokuta Medium Security Custodial Centre in Akure, the Segede Custodial Centre, and the Female Custodial Centre in Ondo town.

Seventeen inmates were freed from the Olokuta facility, while twelve others were released from the Ondo centres. Two more were granted bail and released to their mothers.

Justice Odusola explained that the decision was based on prolonged trial delays, health conditions, and humanitarian grounds.

He emphasized that the move formed part of routine judicial oversight aimed at protecting inmates’ rights and ensuring timely justice.

The Chief Judge lamented that some inmates had been held for years without trial, blaming the situation on delays from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), poor legal representation, and other systemic challenges.

“This exercise is not only about decongesting our prisons,” he said, “but also about ensuring fairness and justice for those whose continued detention is no longer justified.”

Justice Odusola urged relevant stakeholders to strengthen the criminal justice system to prevent the recurrence of such issues.