The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Fabian-Obot, has ordered the release of 55 inmates from the state’s three custodial centres, following her official visits to these facilities. The releases took place between Wednesday and Friday of this week, as part of a review of the cases of inmates in the state.
A breakdown of the pardoned individuals showed that four inmates were released from the Ikot Abasi custodial centre, two from Eket, 11 from Ikot-Ekpene, and 38 from the Uyo custodial centre.
During her visits, Justice Fabian-Obot went through the case files of the inmates in a special session, noting that many of them had committed minor offences and had already spent more time in detention than they would have served if convicted. Some of the releases were made on compassionate or health grounds, while others were granted due to a lack of diligent prosecution.
Among the released inmates was Friday Okoro from the Ikot-Ekpene custodial centre, who had been held for over three years without trial for allegedly stealing coconuts from his cousin.
Justice Fabian-Obot took the opportunity to encourage the released individuals to reintegrate into society and avoid actions that could lead them back into custody. She also expressed concern over the number of missing case files, which has contributed to prolonged detentions for some individuals. She urged prosecutors to ensure that everyone receives their due process and justice.
Frank Okonkwo, the Controller of the Correctional Service in the state, praised Justice Fabian-Obot for her actions, while also highlighting the challenges faced by the correctional facilities, including dilapidated infrastructure and logistical difficulties in transporting inmates to court.
