Edo State’s Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has pledged his dedication to collaborate with the state’s Chief Judge and the judiciary to address the issue of a high number of inmates awaiting trial in the state’s correctional facilities.
During a courtesy call by the Edo State Judiciary’s leadership, headed by Chief Judge Justice Daniel Okungbowa, Governor Obaseki voiced his concern about the significant number of individuals awaiting trial in correctional facilities. He urged the Chief Judge to devise innovative approaches that would ensure these inmates’ comfort and fair treatment while also reducing their numbers. The governor also committed the government’s support in providing the necessary resources to achieve this goal.
Obaseki stated, “We are concerned about the large number of awaiting trial inmates in our correctional centres and would like our Chief Judge to do something different and give assurance of comfort to these people and reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates. We are ready to put in resources to support you in achieving this.
“We are ready to work with you in taking advantage of the new constitutional arrangement to build our own correctional facilities in Edo State to support the work you are doing. We have acquired land and are working on the design as the Attorney General of the State will be meeting with you to show you the plan we have in place.”
Recognizing the Judiciary’s role in maintaining law and order in Edo State, the governor stated, “When we came in 2016, this was not the case. It was not uncommon to find non-state actors taking laws into their own hands, becoming laws unto themselves. Sometimes, it’s better for us to reflect on what the situation was less than eight years ago. With the help of the judiciary, we have been able to maintain law and order in Edo State.
“Nobody can challenge this administration or accuse us of taking steps that are extra-judicial in our dealings as we have abided by the law of the land, which is why we enjoy the level of peace and stability today in the State.”
In response, the Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, said, “We want to thank you, Your Excellency, for the cooperation in the past year and solicit for more cooperation in the coming years. You have done so well in terms of infrastructural development as new Courts have been built and also support in improving the judiciary technology-wise.”
