755 Inmates Await Trial in Ondo Correctional Centres

James Sowole in Akure

The Controller of Correctional Services, Ondo State Command, Mr. Opeyemi Fatinikun, has disclosed that of the 950 inmates in correctional centres in the state, 755 are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATP).

Fatinikun noted with grave concern the number of inmates in the Custodial Centres in the state, and sought the assistance of the state government on the smooth discharge of the Command’s operational duties.

The controller stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in his office.

He said: “We have 950 inmates, 755 Awaiting Trials Persons (ATPs), 12 females, 55 lifers, and one condemned person. We are also requesting that the governor find time to visit the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Olokuta.”

Fatinikun assured the governor that his Command would support the state government “within the ambit of Criminal Justice Administration, security and any other areas required for effective collaborations.”

Responding to the controller, Akeredolu directed the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to commence the legal process of domesticating the Non-Custodial policy contained in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, in a bid to decongest the Correctional Centres in the state.

The governor expressed concern over the number of ATPs across the five Custodial Centres in the state.

Akeredolu commended the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) for its systematic reorientation of inmates into the society under its initiative of Reformation, Rehabilitation and Re-integration.

He said the agricultural and entrepreneurial programmes of the NCS have been beneficial to the society and inmates after their terms.