Ekiti Correctional Centre seeks judiciary support to decongest prison

The new Comptroller of Correctional, Ekiti State Command, Christy Okuseinde, has visited the Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, soliciting the support of the judiciary in decongesting the prison.

She noted that the visit aimed to strengthen the symbiotic relationship between the judiciary and the Correctional Centre.

During the meeting, Okuseinde highlighted the challenges facing the facility, including congestion, with 843 inmates in a facility designed for 343.

She advocated increased use of non-custodial sentencing, such as community service, parole, or probation, to decongest the prison.

While commending magistrates for embracing the approach, she urged the chief judge to encourage others to follow suit.

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

Responding, 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 said that Ekiti judiciary has been utilising non-custodial sentencing effectively and promised to further improve its application.