Ogun State’s correctional facilities are facing a humanitarian crisis as severe overcrowding forces inmates to sleep standing and endure years of pre-trial detention.
At Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta, originally designed for 1,600 inmates, over 3,000 individuals are currently being held in squalid conditions. Former detainees describe scenes of horror — with men packed “like sardines,” rampant disease outbreaks, and a mental health toll that has led to deaths and psychological breakdowns.
“We slept like sardines. Some died from ulcers, others went mad,” a former inmate recounted.
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, recently confirmed that the Sagamu facility is so overcrowded that some inmates cannot lie down to sleep. “They are just standing,” she said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Despite provisions in Nigerian law that prohibit prolonged detention without trial, enforcement appears largely absent. Several inmates are believed to have spent over a decade behind bars without conviction or even a court hearing.
Legal experts and civil society organizations have decried the inefficiency of the justice system and called on the state government and federal authorities to urgently decongest the prisons. Some have recommended the introduction of non-custodial sentencing, speedy trial mechanisms, and improved prison infrastructure.
“This is not just a legal issue — it’s a moral one,” said a human rights lawyer. “Denying people their freedom for years without trial is a gross violation of their rights and a stain on our democracy.”
As public outrage grows, stakeholders are demanding that Ogun State, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Nigerian Correctional Service, initiate comprehensive reforms before the crisis deepens further.