CHIEF JUDGE FLAGS OFF RIVERS STATE JAIL DELIVERY, FREES 21 INMATES INCLUDING MAN DETAINED FOR 18 YEARS WITHOUT TRIAL
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
In a landmark move to address the prolonged detention of inmates without trial, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday launched the state’s jail delivery exercise, resulting in the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre among them, a man held for 18 years without trial.
The most poignant case was that of Gospel Nwibari, who was arrested in 2007 at the age of 14 and spent nearly two decades in detention with no formal charges or legal representation. His case, uncovered by legal advocacy group Haven360 Foundation, underscored the systemic failures the initiative aims to correct.
Flagging off the exercise, Justice Amadi noted that many of the inmates had no case files or verifiable charges against them, despite being accused of serious offences such as murder and armed robbery. He said continued detention without trial violates the principles of justice.
“Many of these inmates had no case files and no means to trace the charges against them. Continuing to detain them serves no justice purpose,” Justice Amadi stated.
He stressed that each release was thoroughly reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), in collaboration with correctional authorities. The exercise, conducted under the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, is part of a broader effort to decongest overcrowded prison facilities and reform the state’s legal system.
Justice Amadi also urged the freed inmates to reintegrate peacefully into society and resist returning to crime, acknowledging that societal reintegration could be difficult due to the nature of the alleged offences.
“Society may not always be forgiving. But the law must remain just and humane,” he said.
Felix Madumere, Controller of Corrections in Rivers State, highlighted the urgent need for prison reforms. He revealed that the Port Harcourt facility, built to accommodate 1,800 inmates, is currently holding over 2,500 a situation he warned could force a suspension of inmate admissions.
“If the state fails to act, we may be forced to halt inmate admissions temporarily to prevent a system breakdown,” Madumere said.
An emotional moment marked the release of Gospel Nwibari, whose family had given up hope after years of searching. His brother, Paul Kinani, described his release as a miracle.
“I thought he was gone forever. We looked for him everywhere. Getting that call from Haven360 Foundation felt like a miracle,” Kinani said tearfully, confirming that Gospel was being taken for urgent medical evaluation following signs of mental distress.
Barr. Cyrus Onu, President of Haven360 Foundation, which uncovered Gospel’s case in 2020, said the foundation also secured the release of a mentally ill woman wrongfully detained in Etche since 2022.
“These are the people justice forgot,” Onu stated, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to rehabilitating and reintegrating former inmates, particularly those battling psychological trauma.
Justice Amadi pledged that the jail delivery exercise would continue across other correctional facilities in the state, with a renewed focus on protecting the rights of detainees and eliminating systemic inefficiencies.
The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Correctional Service, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), legal aid organisations, and human rights advocates all united in the mission to restore justice, dignity, and legal fairness to Nigeria’s correctional system.
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