…The Chief Judge urged all released inmates to maintain good behaviour and avoid returning to crime.
AKWA IBOM, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaete Fabian F-Obot, has approved the release of 63 more inmates from the Uyo Custodial Centre, marking the end of her inspection tour of correctional facilities across the state.
With this latest action, the total number of inmates freed this year has risen to 100, following the earlier release of 37 inmates from the Ikot Abasi, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene custodial centres last week.
The decision to release the 63 inmates came after a thorough review of their cases, involving contributions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, court clerks, and medical personnel within the correctional system.
According to a statement from the judiciary’s press unit on Wednesday, 24 inmates were discharged on special grounds, while 39 were granted pardon on compassionate grounds. Reasons included missing case files, questionable charges, and lack of diligent prosecution.
Among those released on special grounds were 20 inmates battling serious health conditions. One of them, Godwin Francis Etim, who is suffering from tuberculosis, was referred to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Ikot Ekpene for treatment.
A pregnant inmate in her final trimester, facing complications beyond the facility’s capacity, was also released to receive proper medical care.
Another notable case was Magdalene Bassey Edet, whose situation underscored the need for regular facility inspections. She had been convicted by two different courts on separate charges stemming from the same offence.
After completing a 10-year sentence, she was still serving an additional two-year term for the same matter, having been convicted again while already in custody. The Chief Judge ordered her release, citing her good conduct, and placed her on probation for the remaining two years, requiring her to report every three months.
She also cautioned her to stay out of trouble and avoid actions that could lead to her return to custody.
Additionally, four inmates were freed due to stalled cases caused by missing files, reportedly linked to the prolonged illness of a prosecutor who had been absent for about three years, while six others were found to have been wrongly charged.
One of such cases involved Idara Christopher Kingsley, who was detained in place of her husband after reporting a machete attack against her. Her husband, who was wanted over a family-related altercation, was not arrested, leading to her wrongful detention.
The Chief Judge urged all released inmates to maintain good behaviour and avoid returning to crime.
The Chief Judge also criticised the practice by some police officers of obtaining remand orders without pursuing cases, noting that many fail to return to court after the stipulated 21 days.
The Chief Judge advised magistrates to take proactive measures by fixing dates to strike out such cases and notifying relevant parties, stressing that cases should be dismissed where due process is not followed.
In his remarks, the Officer in Charge of the facility, DCC Ezekiel Inyang, described the visit as timely, noting that the centre is facing severe overcrowding.
He disclosed that the facility, built in 1912, is overstretched, currently housing over 1,600 inmates.
He also recounted damage caused by a recent windstorm and heavy rainfall on Tuesday, February 17, which destroyed three cell blocks and part of the perimeter fence, throwing the facility into disarray.
Despite the incident, he confirmed that there were no casualties and no inmates escaped.
