The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), has said the government will expedite action to fast-track the trial of inmates in courts, towards decongesting correctional centres in the state.
Ogungbade, according to a statement on Thursday, revealed this during a visit to the Ibara and Oba Correctional Centres.
He disclosed that the present administration is committed to a renewed focus on addressing the long-standing issues plaguing correctional centres.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mr Toyese Owoade and Mr Ope Owotumi; Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Ms Toyin Aiyepola and Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole.
Ogungbade hinted that efforts would be intensified to improve the centres.
He said, “This visit was necessitated by the need to assess the correctional facilities and have insights into the issues affecting them as government is determined to continue to serve as a beacon of hope for both the staff and inmates.
“Various initiatives are in the pipeline to streamline legal processes and expedite appearance of prisoners in courts for hearing and we are promising that the Ministry would facilitate the smooth transfer of prisoners to court when needed.
“This approach will allow us to understand the multifaceted issues affecting the correctional system and formulate targeted strategies for improvement.”
The commissioner called for synergy between the ministry and correctional authorities to uphold the rights and dignity of inmates, while ensuring public safety, saying the government was committed to championing reforms that promote fairness, efficiency and rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.
In his remarks, the Controller of the Correctional Centre in the state, Mr. Saliu Adepoju, thanked the commissioner and his entourage for the visit, pledging to be more dedicated to upholding the ethics of the centre.
