Correctional service hails Ogun AG for inmates welfare

The Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has hailed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN for his commitment to the administration of justice and the welfare of inmates within the correctional centres across the State.

The State Comptroller of Corrections, Kamarudeen Abioye, in a statement from the Attorney General’s office on Friday gave the commendation while presenting award of excellence to the Commissioner.

Abioye was quoted to have expressed “delight at the constant cooperation that the NCS has enjoyed with the Ogun State Ministry of Justice under the Attorney-General’s leadership”.

He was specifically said to have reflected “on the different inspection visits that the Attorney-General had made to the correctional facilities in the State, to understand the conditions of the facilities, the plight of inmates, and the challenges of correctional officers”.

While presenting the award, Abioye said “on behalf of the Controller-General of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, I express our profound gratitude to you for your passionate commitment towards the inmates under our care. It is a testament to your exemplary leadership and dedication.

“Your passion for service and commitment to the Nigerian Correctional Service have not gone unnoticed. We are honoured to recognize your outstanding contributions to our Service and Ogun State at large. Thank you and God bless you mightily.”

Responding, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice thanked the Service for their cooperation as well.

Ogungbade recalled that on 29th May 2023 the state government extended mercy to 52 inmates and in 2024 alone, 45 death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment while another 41 inmates received mercy and were released from Correctional centres in the State.

He also referred to the June 12 2025 Democracy Day celebration during which more inmates enjoyed mercy dispensed by the Gov Abiodun.

Ogungbade explained that these initiatives were carefully deployed in line with the vision of Gov Dapo Abiodun to ensure that reformed convicts are given a second chance at law-abiding membership of society.

He commended the NCS for providing tools and an enabling environment for convicts to reintegrate into society, such as tools and skills workshops in the correctional centres as well as the opportunity for inmates to take NABTEB examinations and even gain admission into the National Open University.

The AG stated that these initiatives assisted the inmates to reintegrate meaningfully into society after release but would be meaningless if the executive did not support the NCS by releasing reformed inmates back to society so that they can utilise the skills they have acquired in custody.

He also recognised the challenge of overcrowding in prisons explaining that the prerogative of mercy was one of the answers to this problem as there was no point retaining within the Correctional system a person who was reformed and equipped to function in society.

He also reiterated the readiness of the government to consider the relevant warrants for hardened inmates. In his view, a balanced exercise of both options will manage the population of the Correctional centres and send a clear message to inmates that there are consequences for good or bad conduct in custody.y