The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, has ordered the release of 123 inmates from four correctional centres across the state following a comprehensive facility tour that ended on Thursday, July 17.
The affected correctional facilities are located in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, and Ikot Abasi. The inmates were granted freedom on various grounds, including ill health, prolonged detention without trial, lack of substantial evidence, and compassionate reasons.
A breakdown of the release shows that 73 inmates were discharged from the Uyo Custodial Centre, 29 from Ikot Ekpene, 17 from Eket, and four from Ikot Abasi. Of the total number released, 62 were freed on health grounds.
Justice Obot, who began her facility tour on Monday, July 14, across the three senatorial districts of the state, expressed concern over the alarming number of inmates being held for minor offences and the long periods many have spent in custody without trial.
“It is disheartening to see people languishing in jail for offences that should not warrant such prolonged detention, or that carry lighter penalties than the time already spent behind bars,” she said.
One of the most striking cases involved Etieno Okon, who was only 15 years old when he was arrested on charges of alleged cultism and had spent five years in custody without trial.
Justice Obot emphasized that her intervention was guided by the principles of justice, compassion, and fairness. She charged the released inmates to turn a new leaf and avoid actions that could lead to their re-incarceration.
“I urge you to embrace a new beginning and make better choices moving forward,” she advised.
The Chief Judge also raised concerns about the high number of inmates awaiting trial and the delays in prosecution. She called on prosecutors to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is not delayed or denied.
She praised the commitment of judges, magistrates, court officials, and officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, noting their active role in the success of the three-day exercise.
In his remarks, the Controller of Correctional Centres in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Frank Okonkwo, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge for her visit and her interventions aimed at decongesting the facilities.
He, however, decried the poor state of infrastructure and inadequate logistics, especially the lack of operational vehicles for transporting inmates to court.
Okonkwo appealed to Governor Umo Eno to come to the aid of correctional centres in the state, saying such support would go a long way in improving inmate welfare and facilitating justice delivery.
The exercise marks another significant step in the state’s ongoing efforts to reform the justice system and address the challenges of prison congestion.
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