Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Justice Ekaete Fabian Obot had freed a total of 44 inmates of correctional facilities in the state.
The freed inmates comprised two females and 42 males of different age brackets who were accused of minor crimes.
This was the outcome of the CJ’s 2024 first inspection visit to the correctional centres in the state.
Six inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi, five in Eket, 11 in Ikot Ekpene while 24 inmates, including two females, were freed in Uyo.
Justice Obot before granting them pardon, went through all the case files and observed that most of the beneficiaries’ period of stay in the centres without trial was enough punishment for the minor offences such as stealing of palm fruits, cassava, assault among others which they were accused of and ordered that they be released unconditionally.
Some others were released on compassionate grounds and want of prosecution.
The CJ charged them to go home and be of good behavior.
Otuekong Essien accused of stealing cassava tubers, who had stayed up to four months in custody, suffers from perforated ulcer and appendicitis as certified by the custodial doctor. He was released on health grounds at the Ikot Abasi centre.
Twenty-eight year old Shadrach Hanson who had spent over one year in custody for stealing his mother’s cooking pot, was also set free.
“I do not consider it serious enough for you to spend one year and four months in custody. You are hereby released unconditionally, make sure you are of good behavior and don’t do anything that will make you come back here,” Chief Judge ruled.
For Kufre Sylvester and many others accused of cultism and conspiracy, whose case files could not be found and had spent over two years in jail, Justice Obot upheld that they should be released unconditionally.
*Tour case files cannot be found and keeping you here will amount to breech of your fundamental rights and it’s on this premise that you are released unconditionally,” the CJ said.
Obot noted that inasmuch as she would love the correctional facilities to be decongested, she would not release anyone who had committed violent and major crimes to continue unleashing mayhem in the society.
She said justice will take its full course in such cases.
She charged the State Controller of Corrections, Julius Ezegwu to ensure full reformation and rehabilitation of inmates. According to her, apart from providing them with skills, they should also be exposed to education.
Justice Obot therefore called for the establishment of schools within the correctional centres so that those within the teenage age or young adults can be enrolled for a better future.
She promised to write to the governor to assist the centres by providing vehicles to take inmates to court and for other logistics.
In his remarks, the State Controller, Ezugwu thanked the Chief Judge for her consistent visits to the facilities and the goodwill she has extended thus far.
He highlighted some of the challenges bedeviling the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of vehicles to take inmates to court.
