The Osun State Government has kick started the process of decongesting the Ilesa and Ile-Ife custodial centres.
This was made known by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada while paying a two-day working visit to the centres.
Recall that the former Governor of Osun and the immediate-past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had repeatedly call for the involvement of states in the decongestion of the custodial centres.
Aregbesola, while in office noted that most of the inmates in Nigerias custodial facilities are state offenders, whose trials needed to be speeded up or needed to pay token to be acquited but keep languishing in jail.
He also sought the support of states in the construction and upgrade of the facilities at the custodial centres, to ensure that the congestion of the custodial centres is reduced to the barest minimum.
The Attorney General expressed deep concern at the high number of inmates awaiting trial, noting that the state Governor has mandated him to review deserving cases, discontinue charges where appropriate and as well compile list of inmates who had been of good behaviour and whose fines could possibly be paid by the government for their eventual release.
Moved by the plight of an under 18 years inmate, who was a scavenger and convicted to 3 years imprisonment with an option of #150,000.00 fine for stealing iron rods, he personally offset the fine, promising to properly rehabilitate and reintegrate him into the society.
He therefore maintained that government will exercise utmost caution not to reintegrate criminals into the society.
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At the Ilesa correctional centre where the Attorney General and his team were warmly received by the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command, CC. Tolu Ogunsakin and his men, the NCoS boss expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Governor Adeleke for taking the good initiative of embarking on the decongestion exercise, affirming that it came at the right time.
He added that the visit marked a significant milestone as it as it was the first time an Attorney General in Osun State would embark on such visit.
Those on the Attorney General’s team include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs M.A. Bello, the Senior Legal Adviser to the Attorney General, Debo Oladinni (Esq) as well as the Director of DPP, Mrs. Folashade Akinrujomu. Others are Director LAS, Jide Obisakin, Director DC & LD, Tijani Adekilekun, Director LR Kayode Titiloye and Media Assistant to the Governor, Blessing Adegbite.
