Ogun frees 49 inmates to decongest prisons

The Chief Judge of Ogun, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, on Tuesday granted pardon to 49 inmates as part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities in the state.

Ms. Dipeolu pardoned the inmates during a jail delivery exercise at Oba, Ibara, and Ilaro correctional centres in Ogun State.

Thirty-one inmates were released from the Oba correctional centre, 15 from Ibara, and three from Ilaro correctional centre, bringing the total number of inmates granted amnesty to 49.

Ms. Dipeolu said that the exercise was to decongest the facilities, adding that cases of inmates were reviewed, leading to the freedom granted to those deemed deserving.

When she visited the Ilaro correctional centre, she said correctional facilities needed improvement.

READ ALSO:

• JAMB, NCC in talks to produce special SIM for students
• Labour-FG face-off imminent as NLC rejects new salary increase
• As controversy over Maersk-FG port investment rages, Onanuga says no $600m deal signed

”We cannot afford to have deaths on our hands due to overcrowding. The conditions here at the correctional centre have not improved. It is evident that overcrowding is rampant, even without official statistics. Dipeolu expressed particular concern about the overcrowding among those awaiting trial, highlighting their suffering without a conviction.

Also at the Oba correctional centre, the chief judge expressed concern with the overcrowding and condition of the facility.

“We cannot ignore the plight of those awaiting trial, many of whom have been incarcerated for years without conviction,” she said.

At the Ibara correctional centre, the CJ commended the managers of the facility for their efforts at maintaining a relatively better environment, urging them to do more to address the other challenges.

She, however, emphasised the need for swift justice and rehabilitation, rather than mere punishment, to address the root causes of congestion.

In his remarks, controller of the correctional centre, Saliu Adepoju, commended the chief judge and her entourage for exercising and upholding the judiciary’s ethics.

The CJ was accompanied by a team of judges from the state high court, the director of public prosecution management, and some officials, including the state controller and assistant controller of the correctional centre.

Ogun frees 49 inmates to decongest prisons

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

Fear gripped residents as two students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, a government-owned institution in Edo state, fell victim to a tragic incident of cult violence.

A 45-year-old cleric, Mr Sunday Adewoye, was docked for allegedly raping a 22-year-old lady before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State on Tuesday.

Adewoye, whose address was not provided, is charged with unlawful sexual penetration and rape.

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that Adewoye committed the offenses on April 17 at 5.00 p.m. on Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry.

READ ALSO:

• UCL: Vinicius scores double as Real Madrid hold Bayern Munich in semi-final showdown
• Binance founder bags jail term in US
• FG approves salary increase for civil servants

Adeosun said that Adewoye had sexual intercourse with the 22-year-old lady without her consent, in contravention of Sections 260 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, did not take the plea of Adewoye.

He said that he needed advice from the state director of public prosecutions.

The chief magistrate ordered that the defendant should be kept in a custodial facility pending the advice.

He adjourned the case until June 3 for mention.

Lagos cleric, 45, docked for raping 22-year-old lady

(NAN)