Ekiti Comptroller Laments Prison Congestion

The new Comptroller of Correctional, Ekiti State Command, Christy Okuseinde, has revealed that spaces meant for 343 inmates of Correctional Centres in the state now house 843.

Okuseinde disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in his office.

The visit was aimed at strengthening the symbiotic relationship between the judiciary and the Correctional Centre.

During the meeting, Okuseinde highlighted the challenges facing the facility, including congestion, and called for increased use of non-custodial sentencing, such as community service, parole, or probation, to decongest the prison.

While commending some magistrates for embracing this approach, she urged the Chief Judge to encourage others to follow suit.

Okuseinde also requested an expansion of the facility to accommodate the growing inmates’ population and offered to make land available for the project, if considered.

She requested another official visit from the Chief Judge to the facility before the year ended, to assess the situation and also explore ways to release deserving Awaiting Trial Inmates.

In response, Justice Ogunmoye appreciated the visit and acknowledged the critical role of both the judiciary and the Correctional Centre in the administration of criminal justice.

He assured that Ekiti Magistrates have been utilizing non-custodial sentencing effectively and promised to further improve its application.

The Chief Judge also mentioned that the Administration of Criminal Justice committee has been set up in Ekiti State under his chairmanship, they are only awaiting a date for its inauguration.

According to him, the Assistant Comptroller of the Corrections is a member of the committee, and charged her to bring before the committee any issue of the Command’s interest as soon as it begins its sitting.

Justice Ogunmoye promised to visit the Correctional Centre before the end of the year, noting that preparations were underway to inform all stakeholders and also, compilation of the lists of awaiting trial inmates is on top gear.