No fewer than 100 inmates from the Sagamu Correctional Centre, New Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Oba, Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Ibara, Abeokuta, Ilaro, and Ijebu Ode Custodial Centre regained freedom.

The inmates were set free after a review of their cases by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu.

The process commenced on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with 36 inmates regaining their freedom in Sagamu. On Thursday, 20 inmates were released at Oba, along with 12 at Ibara. The final day, Friday, saw the liberation of 16 inmates in Ilaro and an additional 16 in Ijebu-Ode.

The Chief Judge, who arrived at the facilities accompanied by judges and magistrates, stated that the jail delivery exercise is in line with the state government’s efforts to decongest correctional centres in the state.

She revealed that although some were released due to old age, some were based on health issues, and others were detained for long years without any ongoing proceedings.

Justice Dipeolu said, “It’s part of the duty of the honorable Chief Judge to go on jail delivery exercises like once in a while quarter and decongest the prisons.

“Only one was released here in Oba due to old age and, of course, the DPP says he has no case to answer, while the others have been in custody for many years.

“It’s either their case files cannot be located or witnesses are not forthcoming. For as far back as 2017, 2019, 2020, they’ve been in custody and their cases are not going on. So there’s no point keeping them here and feeding them on taxpayers’ money.”

She advised the freed inmates to reintegrate into society and become good citizens, warning that if they return to their old ways, they would not be lucky again.

She added, “They should go back into society and be good citizens. We have their records, we always tell them, ‘If you come back, you would not be lucky the second time,’ so we implore them to be of good behavior.

“Let them go back into society and find something tangible to do with their lives.”

Meanwhile, the State Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, expressed satisfaction over the decongestion and appealed to the state government for more operational vehicles for mobility of inmates.