Civil Rights Group Calls on Governor Oborevwori to Address Prison Congestion in Delta State

A well-known civil rights advocacy body, the Young Nigerian Rights Organization (YNRO), has appealed to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to urgently implement measures aimed at decongesting correctional facilities across the state.

The call was made by the group’s lead activist, Comrade Victor Ojei, popularly known as Wong Box, through a statement issued in Warri and made available to journalists.

According to Ojei, the Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2022 provides a legal framework that encourages a shift in the justice system from being largely punitive to more reformative and rehabilitative. This law empowers judges and magistrates to apply non-custodial sentencing options, ensuring that individuals convicted of minor offences are not unnecessarily sent to prison.

He explained further that alternatives such as community service and probation are effective mechanisms to reduce the burden on prisons, while also enabling offenders to reform positively outside correctional facilities. Ojei emphasized that such alternatives prevent minor offenders from being exposed to hardened criminals, a situation that often worsens crime rates and increases repeat offending.

The activist highlighted another key provision of the law, which is the Prerogative of Mercy—also known as clemency, state pardon, or amnesty. He stated that this constitutional tool remains an important instrument for governors to decongest overcrowded custodial centres by granting pardon to deserving inmates, particularly those convicted of minor or first-time offences.

Ojei urged Governor Oborevwori to demonstrate political will by activating the following steps without delay:

1. Implement non-custodial sentencing options such as probation or community service for minor offenders and first-time convicts.
2. Speed up the application of the Prerogative of Mercy, ensuring that deserving inmates are granted amnesty or pardon to ease the strain on correctional centres.

He stressed that such actions would not only reduce overcrowding but also align with the broader objectives of the criminal justice reform agenda—promoting fairness, rehabilitation, and efficiency.

According to the YNRO, these measures will help restore justice and humanity to the penal system in Delta State, ensuring that correctional facilities serve their true purpose of reformation rather than becoming overcrowded punitive centres.