PROGRESS REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE UNDER HON. WOLE JIMI-BADA SINCE ASSUMING OFFICE ON 19TH JULY, 2023, AS THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, OSUN STATE, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN OFFICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE, THE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE

PROGRESS REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE UNDER HON. WOLE JIMI-BADA SINCE ASSUMING OFFICE ON 19TH JULY, 2023, AS THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, OSUN STATE, IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN OFFICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE, THE GOVERNOR OF OSUN STATE

Upon his inauguration with pomp and pageantry, as the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State by the forward-thinking and cosmopolitan Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on 19th July, 2023, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada hit the ground running, with a clear vision on how to reposition the Ministry of Justice, Osun State for better and efficient service delivery for the benefit of the good people of Osun State.

Some of the lofty achievements of the Ministry of Justice in four months since Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada assumed office as the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, include but are not limited to: the correctional center decongestion drive; zero tolerance to gender based violence initiative; securing funding approval from His Excellency for the renovation of the Ministry and the purchase of laptops and other technological equipment for counsel in the Ministry.

Flowing from the above, find below the highlights of some of the lofty achievements of the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State within the past four months of assuming office:

CORRECTIONAL CENTRE DECONGESTION: TWO-DAY WORKING VISIT TO ILESA AND ILE-IFE CORRECTIONAL CENTERS, OSUN STATE

His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, ably represented by the Attorney-General of Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada, paid a two-day working visit to Ilesa and Ile-Ife Nigerian Correctional Centers on 10th and 11th of August 2023 respectively. The Attorney-General’s working visit to both Centers was further to the directive of the Governor, which was a result of the of the security briefings, he received at the council meetings overtime. The sole purpose of the said visits paid by the Attorney-General to both Centers was to carry out the clear mandate of His Excellency to kickstart the decongestion process of the overcrowded Ilesa and Ile-Ife Correctional Centers.

At the Ilesa Correctional Center, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada and his team, comprising the Special Adviser to the Governor on legislative matters, Hon. Ropo Oyewole, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. M.A. Bello, Debo Oladinni, Esq., Senior Legal Adviser to the Attorney-General, Mr. Arewa Oluwaseun, SA to the Attorney-General on Media & Politics, Mrs. Folashade Akinrujomu (Director of DPP), Jide Obisakin (Director, LAS) Tijani Adekilekun Kareem (Director, DC & LD), Kayode Titiloye (Director, LR),  Oluremi Martins, Peter Oyelola, Adewale Afolabi, Blessing Adegbite (Media Assistant to the Governor)  and other members of the entourage, were warmly received by CC. Tolu Ogunsakin, the Controller-in-charge, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Osun State Command.

According to the Controller, the said visit marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time an Attorney-General in Osun State would personally pay a working visit to the Centre to interview and interact with awaiting trial inmates who had committed minor offences and also assess those deserving inmates, whose fines could be defrayed by the State Government. The Controller-in-charge expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Osun State Government for picking up the gauntlet to address the festering issue of overcrowded correctional centers filled with more inmates awaiting trial than actual convicts. The Officer-in-charge, Ilesa Correctional Centre, DCC. A.O. Aremu informed the Attorney-General that the Centre was designated to accommodate 585 inmates, but presently overstretched to 766 inmates, with 655 inmates awaiting trial and a total of 111 convicts. 

On Friday, 11th August, 2023, the Controller-in-charge, Osun State Command, CC. Tolu Ogunsakin and DCC. O.L. Obende, the Officer-in-charge, Ile-Ife Medium Custodial Center, received the Attorney-General of Osun State and his team. DCC. O.L. Obende informed the Attorney-General that the capacity of the Center was designated for 160 inmates, but was presently overstretched to 346 inmates, with 302 inmates awaiting trial and had only 44 convicts.

Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada, expressed deep concern at the sheer number of inmates awaiting trial and reiterated the sacrosanct mandate of His Excellency directing him to review deserving cases, discontinue charges where appropriate, and compile a list of inmates who had been of good behaviour and whose fines could possibly be paid by the Government for release, while maintaining utmost caution not to reintegrate criminals into the society. Over 150 inmates were interviewed at both Correctional Centers by the Attorney-General and his seasoned legal team.  Each inmate's case record was carefully and painstakingly scrutinized by the Attorney-General, with a litany of questions posed to the awaiting trial inmates, who had committed minor offences to ascertain their respective offences and took note of necessary steps to be taken to expedite action on their cases. The Attorney-General assured the Controller that necessary measures will be put in place to stem the ugly tide of overcrowded correctional centers. In one of the cases, the Attorney-General was moved by the plight of a young inmate, less than 18 years of age (who is an illiterate), who claimed to be a scrap scavenger and was convicted for stealing iron rods and sentenced to three years imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of N150,000. The Attorney-General personally paid the fine of the said inmate, upon hearing the sad account of his predicament, and promised to ensure his proper rehabilitation, in order to ensure he is reintegrated into the society. 

The Attorney-General observed that a bevy of awaiting trial inmates were incarcerated for cases related to breach of contract, which were civil in nature and promised to take steps to arrest the ugly tide.  DCC Tolu Ogunsakin, the Controller-in-charge, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)Osun State Command expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, ably represented by the erudite Attorney-General of Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada and his supportive and dynamic legal team for taking the good initiative of embarking on the much-needed exercise of prison decongestion of inmates who had committed minor offences. 

 REINTEGRATION/REHABILITATION PROPOSALS FOR INMATES MADE BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, OSUN STATE TO THE MINISTER FOR INTERIOR 

The Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada vide a letter dated 27th October, 2023, written to the Honourable Minister for Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo  commended the Hon. Minister for embarking on the process of decongesting correctional centers across the nation by way of payment of fines for over 4,000 inmates (in the tune of  over N500,000,000 to be raised via the private sector as a form of corporate social responsibility to the society). He, however, harped on the need for the Hon.Minister to introduce a comprehensive and thorough reintegration / rehabilitation program, anchoring his suggestion on Section 10 (f) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, which provides that one of the core functions of the Custodial Service is “implementing reformation and rehabilitation programmes to enhance the reintegration of inmates back into the society.” 

In essence, the Achilles heel of this laudable decongestion policy could be the failure to draw up a reintegration roadmap. This is to prevent released inmates from going back to crime, thus endangering the society. We cannot afford to release inmates from the correctional centers into the wilderness of uncertainty, stigmatization, hunger, unemployment etc., without providing the said inmates with “manna”, in terms of equipping them with the necessary training and skills to survive in the outside world. The primary aim of social reintegration programmes is to provide offenders with the required assistance and supervision that they may need to desist from crime, to successfully reintegrate into the community and to avoid a relapse into criminal behaviour (recidivism). 

The Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada made the following proposals to the Honourable Minister for Interior, with respect to executing a successful correctional center decongestion plan: 

1. Liaising with the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Attorneys-General of the 36 States of the Federation/Ministries of Justice to ensure the inmates whose fines are to be paid are interviewed, assessed and also ascertain that inmates on the said lists actually have the option to pay fines in the judgments convicting them. 

2. Liaising with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that each inmate is assessed mentally, psychologically and physically before reintegrating them into the society. 

3. For the integration program to be effective, I suggest that the 4,000 inmates are released in manageable batches of 1,000 for effective rehabilitation/societal reintegration, which should be for a period not less than three months. 

4. Source for funds from/liaise with the private sector to facilitate a watertight rehabilitation/reintegration program for the said inmates. The Inmates’ Training and Productivity (ITP) Directorate of the Nigerian Correctional Service should endeavour to arrange a ‘special training reintegration program’ for the 4,000 inmates prior to their reintegration into the society. 

5. The Inmates’ Training and Productivity (ITP) Directorate is charged with the responsibility of training inmates specifically in Correctional Farms and Industries for the purpose of not only imparting self-sustaining skills on them, but also in the process inculcating in them the positive orientation of finding dignity in labour.

6. Brief members of the general public extensively on the reintegration blueprint designed for the 4,000 inmates set to be released from the correctional centers. It will be a welcome development if the reintegration blueprint/handbook. can be shared with the general public.

COMMENDATION LETTER FROM THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

It is heartwarming to note that within four months of assuming office as the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada received a letter of commendation from the Federal Ministry of Justice appreciating his contributions towards improving the administration and reform of the criminal justice system. The said letter Ref. No. MJ/ACJ & R/AG/011/I dated 24th October, 2023 (but received on 2nd November, 2023) duly signed by Mrs. Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, the Director, Administration of Criminal Justice & Reforms Department (For: Solicitor-General of the Federation & Permanent Secretary) stated in part thus:“

I am directed to acknowledge your support and participation in the ongoing reform in the Justice Sector”

ZERO TOLERANCE TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE INITIATIVE

Upon assumption of office and at his maiden meeting with the Permanent Secretary and Directors of the Ministry of Justice, Osun State on 20th July, 2023, the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada requested for all case files relating to Gender Based Violence (GBV); expressing a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of gender-based violence. Hon. Wole Jimi Bada, a man of his words and true to type, has not only personally handled gender-based violence cases in court, but also facilitated the process of victims getting their lives back on track through educational scholarships/trainings at no cost to the State Government, but from the personal purse of the Adeleke family.   

One of the cases personally handled presently by the Hon. Attorney-General, involves a 14-year-old girl, a victim of rape, defilement, and indecent assault. This courageous survivor of gang rape, molestation, and intimidation by seven young men found refuge in the Safe Home of Value Female Network, a non-governmental organization, where she had been receiving support and shelter since her case was reported. Three of the perpetrators (with four others at large) of this heinous crime were apprehended on 31st March, 2023, by the DSS and subsequently arraigned in the Magistrate Court in Osogbo on 4th April, 2023. Due to the gravity of the crimes, an Information was filed against the accused persons at the High Court on 17th October, 2023. During of one of the proceedings, the victim bravely shared her unpalatable experience in the hands of these dare devils in human skin.

Moved by her ordeal, the Honourable Judge, upon the application of the Attorney-General, ordered that the Osun State Government should assume responsibility for the victim’s well-being and dismissed the bail application of the perpetrators. The Attorney-General, in compliance with the order of the court, handed over the victim to Chief (Mrs.) Modupe Sanni (the sister of the Governor of Osun State, who extended a helping hand by providing full educational scholarship for the 14-year girl (the victim). It is noteworthy to state, that the Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada has pledged to remain steadfast in his bid to eradicate gender-based violence in Osun State. 

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE: 2024 IN FOCUS

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Hon. Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada has set the Ministry of Justice, Osun State on the right track and has pledged that under his watch, the Ministry will witness exponential growth in terms of justice sector reforms, staff welfare etc. 

E-signed

Debo Oladinni, Esq.

Senior Legal Adviser to the Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, 

Osun State