In a significant move to address the critical issue of prison overcrowding, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima, has ordered the immediate release of 77 inmates from the Abolongo Correctional Facility in Oyo town. The decision, carried out during a formal visit to the facility on Tuesday, brings a long-awaited day of freedom for dozens of individuals, many of whom had languished in detention for years without a conviction.
The release underscores a major systemic failure within Nigeria’s justice system: the overwhelming number of awaiting-trial inmates who populate the nation’s correctional facilities. The Chief Judge’s intervention, while bringing relief to a few, casts a bright light on a much larger national crisis.
A Day of Liberty Amidst a Systemic Crisis
The atmosphere at the Abolongo facility was thick with anticipation as the Chief Judge’s delegation, led on her behalf by Justice Ladiran Akintola, began the painstaking process of reviewing individual cases. The 77 individuals granted freedom were not pardoned convicts; they were people who had been awaiting trial, some for serious capital offenses, for an extended period.
Their cases were reviewed on several grounds:
- Prolonged Pre-Trial Detention: Many had been imprisoned for longer than the maximum sentence they would have served if found guilty.
- Health Grounds: A number of inmates were released due to severe health conditions, including tuberculosis and kidney problems, which are often exacerbated by the harsh and overcrowded conditions of correctional facilities.
- Lack of Diligent Prosecution: Some cases were dismissed because the prosecution had failed to bring forward a viable case against the accused over many years.
In her remarks, the Chief Judge acknowledged that the state’s correctional facilities were dangerously overstretched, making the decongestion exercise a matter of urgent necessity. “We hope that the goal of getting this facility decongested would have been achieved at the end of this visit today,” she stated.
The Overwhelming Burden of Awaiting Trial
The situation at Abolongo is a microcosm of a nationwide problem. A significant majority of Nigeria’s prison population—often estimated to be over 70%—is made up of awaiting-trial inmates. These are individuals who have been charged with a crime but have not been convicted. Legally, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty, yet many spend years, sometimes even decades, behind bars.
This issue is fueled by several factors, including a slow and overburdened judicial system, delays in police investigations, inadequate legal aid for the poor, and the complex nature of prosecuting capital offenses, which can drag on for years. The result is a system where prisons designed for a few thousand inmates are forced to hold many times their intended capacity, leading to deplorable living conditions and a violation of fundamental human rights.
A Second Chance and a Solemn Warning
For the 77 who were freed, the moment was one of overwhelming emotion. The Chief Judge offered them heartfelt congratulations but also delivered a solemn charge, urging them not to squander this “uncommon favour.”
“There is a reason God has intervened for you. Therefore, I want you to turn a new leaf, beginning from now. Don’t go back to your way of sin and crime again; rather, engage in a work possible for you and within your capabilities.”
She further admonished them to return to society as changed individuals and to make peace with God and anyone they may have offended. “May this liberty you have obtained today be for your good,” she prayed.
A Call for More Regular Intervention
The visit was warmly welcomed by the prison authorities, who are on the front lines of managing the overcrowding crisis. The Comptroller of Correction for Oyo State, Dare Opadeji, described the visit as a “long-awaited” one and made a passionate appeal for it to become a more regular exercise, suggesting monthly or quarterly visits. This plea from the prison leadership itself highlights the desperation of the situation and the recognition that such decongestion exercises are a necessary, if temporary, solution.
The Chief Judge acknowledged this plea, promising to look into making the visits more frequent to provide continuous relief to the system.
Conclusion
While the release of 77 inmates is a profoundly positive event for the individuals and their families, it serves as a stark reminder of the deeper institutional rot. The act of freeing inmates who have been unjustly detained for years is a temporary fix for a problem that requires fundamental, systemic reform. Real, lasting change will only come from speeding up the wheels of justice, ensuring swift trials, providing adequate legal representation for all, and investing in non-custodial alternatives.
Until then, exercises like the one conducted by the Oyo State Chief Judge will remain a critical, compassionate, but ultimately insufficient response to a crisis that continues to challenge the very core of Nigeria’s justice system.
