The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Oyo State Command, Mr. Ayoola Opadeji, says no fewer than 1,440 inmates in the state’s custodial centres are awaiting trial.
Opadeji made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.
He explained that the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, designed to hold 390 inmates, currently accommodates 1,240, with 1,001 of them awaiting trial. Similarly, the Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo, with a capacity of 160, now has 514 inmates, of which 439 are awaiting trial.
According to him, the total inmate population across the state stands at 1,817, with only 377 already convicted and serving their sentences.
The controller said efforts were ongoing by the service, the state government, and the judiciary to decongest the facilities. Measures include the use of community service for minor offenders, jail delivery sessions by chief judges, accelerated trial processes, and the granting of pardons.
Opadeji added that discussions were underway with the Oyo State Government and the Attorney-General to consider granting amnesty to some inmates as part of efforts to ease congestion in the state’s custodial centres.
