AKWA IBOM GOVT GRANTS STATE PARDON TO 44 INMATES

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The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has ordered the release of 44 prisoners, including two females, from the state’s three senatorial districts in an effort to decongest the state’s prison system.

Six of the prisoners were released from custody at the Ikot Abasi center, five in the Eket custodial center, eleven in the Ikot Ekpene center, and twenty-four prisoners—two of them female—were pardoned in the Uyo custodial center.

The top judge released the prisoners during his initial inspection visit to the jail facilities.

Judge Obot noted that the majority of the beneficiaries had minor offenses and had been detained without being given the opportunity to face charges for an excessive amount of time during his review of all the case files on Thursday in the Uyo Center’s correctional chapel. For humanitarian and medical reasons, a few other prisoners were also freed.

Their case files listed a variety of offenses, including fighting, assault, and theft of palm fruits and cassava.

After spending up to four months in detention on suspicion of stealing cassava tubers, one Otuekong Essien was released from the Ikot Abasi center on medical grounds. The custodial doctor confirmed that the accused had appendicitis and a perforated ulcer.

A 28-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 on good behaviour and don’t do anything that will make you come back here,” the CJ told Hanson.

For Kufre Sylvester and many others accused of cultism and conspiracy, their case files could not be found.

Ruling on their matters, the CJ said, “Your case files cannot be found and keeping you here will amount to the breach of your fundamental rights. It’s on this premise that you are released unconditionally.”

Justice Obot said as much as she would love the correctional facilities to be decongested, she would not release anyone who had committed violent and major crimes.

She charged the state Controller of Corrections, Julius Ezegwu, to ensure full reformation and rehabilitation of inmates, saying that apart from helping them to acquire skills, they should be exposed to education.

She called for the establishment of schools within the correctional centres and promised to communicate such to Governor Umo Eno.

“I have observed from my visits that there are training facilities for inmates, but it shouldn’t end there.

“There should also be the establishment of schools so that those within the teenage age and those willing would be enrolled.

“This will enable them to have a better future. We should not condemn them totally because of the situation they found themselves in. I advocate that apart from the craft, they should be exposed to secular education,” Justice Obot said.

Ezugwu, in his remarks, thanked the CJ for her visit to the facilities and called for efforts to repair the dilapidated facilities and vehicles.