30 persons facing community service punishments in Oyo

Up to 30 persons have been sentenced to carry out community service in Oyo state after about five months of operating the Community Service Law in the state.

Deputy Chief Registrar, Probate and Community Service, Oyo state, Mrs O. A. Ogunrin disclosed this at a sensitization for community service officers organized by Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Ibadan.

Though Ogunrin noted that Oyo courts were only gradually giving community service punishment as sentences, she said many offenders were found ineligible for community service due to their inability to provide a guarantor.

It would be recalled that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had in August 2017 assented to the community service punishment law, whereby convicts will instead of prison terms, undertake hours of community service for minor offences.

“The courts in Oyo state are gradually tilting towards giving community service punishment as sentences. Since we began implementing the law, about 30 persons have been sentenced and some are currently serving. This punishment cannot exceed six months.

“Some are not eligible because they can’t provide a guarantor and they are sent back to the courts and the magistrate may give a custodial sentence or fine,” Ogunrin said.

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Noting that the state boasted of 25 community service officers across zones of the state, she prayed for more funding, training and stipends for officers.

A community service officer in the Lagos state Judiciary, Dr Wale Kuforiji, who was the guest speaker, admonished community service officers to uphold integrity and good character to be able to enforce punishment.

According to Kuforiji, integrity was imperative to deal with many offenders won’t to bribing officers so as to not to carry out their punishment.

Also speaking, Director, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Ibadan, Reverend Father Ezekiel Owoeye admonished the officers to keep their zeal alive to effectively discharge their duties amid initial teething funding challenges.

Owoeye who was represented by Mr Adewale Irefin regarded community service punishment as a way to ensure that the justice sector guarantees justice, peace and equity.

In their various comments, participants identified the need for magistrates to be trained and aware of Community Service sentencing.