Nigerian Correctional Service
The Chief Judge of Oyo State has ordered the release of seventy-eight inmates during Jail Delivery Exercises conducted at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Agodi, Ibadan, and the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abolongo, Oyo, on 14 and 15 April 2026 respectively. The exercise forms part of ongoing judicial efforts to decongest custodial facilities and promote the fair and timely administration of justice across the State.
A total of forty inmates were released at Agodi, while thirty-eight inmates regained their freedom at Abolongo. The exercise was presided over by Hon. Justice Ladiran Akintola, who represented the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Hon. Justice I. A. Yerima.
In his remarks at both facilities, Justice Akintola reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to periodic visits to custodial centres, noting that such interventions are essential in ensuring that deserving inmates benefit from judicial discretion while also addressing the challenge of overcrowding.
The Controller of Corrections, Oyo State Command, CC Osogun Cornelius Olusegun, was represented at both proceedings by DCC S. M. Bolorunduro, owing to ongoing senior officers’ interviews at the National Headquarters. The Officer in Charge of the Agodi facility, ACC S.A Adekunmbi, and the Officer in Charge of the Abolongo facility, DCC D.O Akadiri, were present throughout their respective proceedings.
Speaking on behalf of the Controller at Abolongo, DCC Bolorunduro highlighted the Nigerian Correctional Service as a leading penal institution in Sub-Saharan Africa, with officers continuously trained in modern correctional practices and criminal justice administration. She commended the sustained collaboration between the Oyo State Judiciary and the Service, noting that such synergy continues to yield measurable outcomes in justice delivery and custodial management.
She further observed that the exercise reflects the strengthening partnership between both institutions, particularly following the Controller’s recent courtesy visit to the Chief Judge. She acknowledged the Chief Judge’s consistent support in addressing overcrowding, referencing the positive outcomes of similar exercises conducted in 2025.
Justice Akintola emphasised that the Jail Delivery Exercise extends beyond custodial administration into a humanitarian intervention. He noted that special consideration was given to inmates with health challenges and persons awaiting trial who had overstayed their remand period, particularly in cases where the likely sentence upon conviction would be minimal.
Addressing the released inmates, he described the opportunity as a rare privilege and urged them to make responsible life choices. He encouraged them to become agents of positive change within their communities, stressing that fulfilment and success are attainable without recourse to crime.
The vote of thanks was delivered by the Officers in Charge at both facilities, while they both expressed appreciation to all stakeholders whose contributions ensured the success of the exercise.
The Jail Delivery Exercises at Agodi and Abolongo underscore the shared commitment of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Oyo State Judiciary to justice, humane custody, and effective rehabilitation. The initiative also aligns with the reform vision of the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, which prioritises efficient, humane, and reform-oriented correctional administration as a cornerstone of a just and progressive society.
