55 inmates awaiting trial in Ondo prisons as Gov Akeredolu moves to decongest facilities
‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure
A total of seven hundred and fifty-five inmates in the facilities of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Ondo State are awaiting trial.
The Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Services, Ondo State Command, Mr. Opeyemi Fatinikun disclosed on Wednesday during a visit to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu at his office in Akure.
Fatinikun said that the lack of speedy trials, the putting of minor offenders in prisons, and the general non-charlatan attitudes of government to the welfare of the inmates result in the heavy overcrowding of prisoners.
He described congestion of the custodial facilities as a main challenge of the correctional service noting that something urgent must be done to address the issue.
“Mr. Governor, we have 950 inmates, 755 Awaiting Trials Persons,12 Females, 55 Lifers, 1 person condemned. We request that the Governor find time to visit the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Olokuta,”.
According to him, the command will support the state government “within the ambit of Criminal Justice Administration, Security and any other areas” required for effective collaborations.
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The Controller also sought the assistance of the state government on the smooth discharge of the Command’s operational duties.
Speaking, Governor Akeredolu expressed concern over the number of Awaiting Trial Persons, ATP, across the five Custodial Centres in the state.
The Governor, however, asked the State Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice to commence the legal process of domesticating the Non-Custodial policy contained in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 in a bid to decongest the Correctional Centres in the state.
He commended the Nigeria Correctional Service for its systematic reorientation of inmates into the society under its 3is Initiative of Reformation, Rehabilitation, and Re-integration.
According to the governor, the Agricultural and Entrepreneurial programmes of the Nigerian Correctional Service have been beneficial to society and inmates after their terms.
The Governor assured of his administration’s readiness to continue to ensure that all agencies of government are assisted despite the paucity of funds.
