The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has disclosed that more than 8,000 defendants have regained their freedom through the Ogun Bondsmen Scheme since its inception five years ago.
Speaking on Friday at the official opening of the second edition of the Bondsmen Stakeholders Forum, held at the Ceremonial Court, Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta, Justice Dipeolu said the initiative has been instrumental in decongesting correctional facilities while reforming a bail system previously marred by corruption and inefficiency.
“When we last met, we celebrated the release of 2,800 defendants between January 2021 and October 2023. Today, I am delighted to report that between October 2023 and July 2025, this figure has grown exponentially,” she stated.
According to her, licensed bondsmen — Chrysalis Bail and Bond Limited and Egba Kelisco Bail and Bond Limited — were pivotal in securing the release of over 8,000 defendants awaiting trial.
“This is not simply a statistic; it represents over 8,000 individuals whose rights to liberty and presumption of innocence have been preserved, while significantly reducing pressure on our correctional institutions,” the Chief Judge said.
She added that the milestone reflects the effectiveness of the scheme and aligns with her administration’s seven-point agenda. Justice Dipeolu also announced the licensing of a third company, Praise and Moremi Bail and Bonds Limited, expanding the number of authorised bondsmen in Ogun State to three.
However, she acknowledged challenges such as absconding defendants, which necessitated the introduction of the 2025 Bondsmen Regulations to strengthen and standardise operations.
Unveiling plans for a digitised bail system, Justice Dipeolu revealed that a digital database was created in January 2025 to capture information on all defendants granted bail through bondsmen.
“Our vision is to integrate the bondsmen system into a centralised digital platform. Imagine a future where bail applications, surety verifications, bondsmen engagements, and court notifications are processed seamlessly through a single portal,” she said, emphasising its potential to reduce paperwork, eliminate corruption risks, and provide real-time data for justice management.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ogun State Bondsmen Licensing Board, Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora, hailed the scheme’s impact on prison decongestion. He noted that of 243 absconding cases recorded, 212 defendants were rearrested through the scheme’s robust mechanisms.
Justice Ogunfowora highlighted other gains, including the elimination of fake sureties, touting, and extortion by corrupt officials, as well as job creation — with the two pioneer bondsmen companies employing over 80 staff. He also confirmed the launch of a Centralised Bondsmen Database to provide real-time monitoring of released defendants and ensure fraud-proof operations.
The state’s bond administrator, Mr. Olakulehin Oke, outlined key innovations in the 2025 Bondsmen Regulations, such as increased financial thresholds for licences: Category A from ₦10 million to ₦20 million and above, Category B from ₦5 million to ₦15 million, and Category C from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.
He added that any bondsman whose three clients abscond within six months would face licence revocation, while others violating regulations risk up to a four-year ban.
Prison congestion, a longstanding challenge in Nigeria’s justice system, often worsens when defendants remain in custody due to inability to meet bail conditions. Initiatives such as the Ogun Bondsmen Scheme — alongside periodic releases by presidents, governors, and Chief Judges on health or compassionate grounds — remain crucial in tackling the issue.
Justice Dipeolu further disclosed that 149 inmates had been freed this year during the state judiciary’s jail delivery exercise.
