March 14, 2025
The Chief Judge (CJ) of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, on Friday rounded up a three-day visit to correctional centres and freed a total of 55 inmates in the state.
Eighteen out of the 55 inmates were released on health grounds.
Four inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi custodial centre; two inmates were released in Eket centre, 11 in Ikot Ekpene centre, while 38 and one nursing mother were freed in Uyo custodial centre.
The CJ ‘s official visits to the custodial centres across the three Senatorial districts began on Wednesday, March 12 and ended on Friday, March 14.
The chief judge observed that most of the offenders had minor offences and had over stayed in the custodial centres beyond the period they were supposed to stay, if they had been convicted.
She, however, released some on compassionate and on health grounds and lack of diligence prosecution.
A typical case in Ikot-Ekpene custodual centre, was a case of one Friday Okoro, who has been in custody for over three years, without trial, for stealing his cousin’s coconuts.
The CJ in discharging the inmates in all the centres charged them to be of good behaviour and shun all acts, that might bring them back to the custodial centre.
Obot expressed displeasure on the number of missing case files while the accused were still in custody with some staying more than the sentence of their crime if convicted.
She charged prosecutors on the need to ensure that no one was denied justice and they should not infringe on the fundamental rights of the accused.
The Controller of Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr. Frank Okonkwo, thanked the chief judge for her consistent visit to the facilities and the goodwill extended to the custodial centres in the state.
Okonkwo highlighted some of the challenges confronting the centres to include; dilapidated facilities and lack of logistics to convey inmates to court.
He appealed to Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom to extend support and assistance to the custodial centres in the state. (NAN)
