The first phase of the 2014 Annual
Prison Visit was conducted by the Hon. Chief Judge of Ondo state, Hon. Justice
Olasehinde Kumuyi and his entourage at the Olokuta Medium security Prisons on
the 18th February, 2014.
On His Lordship’s entourage were: Hon.
Justice T.O. Osoba, Hon. Justice O.O. Akeredolu, Hon. Justice D.I. Kolawole, The
Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Chief Tony Akinrinsola, Some Deputy
Chief Registrars (DCR’s) of the State High Court, Some Directors and Heads of
Departments (HOD’s) in the Judiciary and Ministry of Justice, Magistrates, Registrars,
Clerks of Courts, Other staff of the State Judiciary as well as the Commissioner
of Police, ably represented by the Akure Area Commander, ACP Edward Ajobu.
Also present at the Prison Premises
were Medical teams made up of the Prison Medical Department, Doctors from Ondo State
Ministry of Health and representatives of the Ondo State branch of Nigerian
Medical Association (NMA).
St’ Joseph Half Way House, a
non-governmental organisation whose aim is providing a safe-house, training,
reintegration and reorientation for inmates who had just been released, made a great
appearance during the visit.
The Justice Development and Peace
Commission (JDPC), a Catholic Church of Nigeria initiative that enforces
liberty of persons was also present.
The Coordinator, Prisons Fellowship
of Nigeria, Ondo State Branch was there also.
In his welcome speech, the
Comptroller of Prisons, Olokuta Medium Security Prisons, Mr M.O. Olaniran Specially
thanked the Hon. Chief Judge for his unparalleled contribution to the Criminal
Justice Review which in recent times has benefited the system. He also thanked everyone
present and prayed for peace in Ondo state.
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge welcomed
everyone and commenced the day’s business by reading out the conditions under
which some of the inmates could be considered for freedom. These include:
Ø Long period
of Awaiting Trial.
Ø Severe Health
Conditions including Terminal Diseases.
Committee
reviewed the list of awaiting trial inmates, with length of stay generally
between 2 weeks and 8 years. Interestingly, each case was addressed on its
merit and recommendations were made. Since quite a number were already on
trial, favourable consideration was given to those with health conditions and those
whose records could not be traced.
In the whole process, 17 inmates were
released. Accordingly:
Ø 4 were
released on grounds of Severe and Debilitating Health Conditions.
Ø 1 inmate on Traffic
Offense was released because the period of his incarceration had exceeded the
maximum period of punishment for his offense.
Ø 1 inmate was
released upon review of his bail conditions.
Ø 5 Juveniles
were ordered to be taken to Juvenile remand home, and
Ø 6 others were
released because their Case Files and other records could not be located.
Furthermore, the Hon. Chief Judge observed
that sending Juveniles to the general Prison where adults and hardened
criminals were harboured was not only unhealthy for Society, but against the efforts
of the Judiciary to decongest the Prisons. His Lordship further enjoined the
Police and the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to harmonise efforts to trace
the misplaced case files, though he made promise of an
in-house investigation that would determine the positions of the files.
Addressing the press after the
exercise, the Hon. Chief Judge said the State Government has agreed to fund
Judiciary to build 2 additional specialised criminal courts at the Olokuta and
Ondo Prisons Premises respectively.
On 2nd April, 2012, the State
Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko commissioned the Rapid Justice System (High Court
10) at the olokuta Medium Security Prisons, a giant stride of the Ondo State
Judiciary. The Rapid Justice Delivery System aimed at decongesting the prisons
and fast tracking the trial of Criminal Matters has drastically reduced the logistics
of taking accused persons charged with criminal offences to court, this is an initiative
yet to be replicated in any part of Africa.
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