The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaete F. Obot, has ordered the release of 63 additional inmates from the Uyo Custodial Centre, bringing to 100 the total number of inmates freed across correctional facilities in the state within one week.
The latest exercise followed an earlier release of 37 inmates from custodial centres in Ikot Abasi, Eket and Ikot Ekpene, as part of a routine inspection aimed at decongesting facilities and ensuring justice for detainees.
A statement issued by the judiciary press unit disclosed that the decision to free the inmates came after a thorough review of their cases, carried out in collaboration with the Director of Public Prosecution, court clerks and medical personnel.
According to the statement, 24 inmates were discharged on special grounds, while 39 others were granted pardon on compassionate grounds, including cases involving missing case files, questionable charges and lack of diligent prosecution.
Among those released were 20 inmates battling serious health conditions. One of them, Godwin Francis Etim, who is suffering from tuberculosis, was referred to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Ikot Ekpene for further treatment.
Also released was a pregnant inmate in her final trimester who had developed complications beyond the capacity of the custodial facility, necessitating urgent medical attention.
The inspection also brought to light the case of Magdalene Bassey Edet, who had been convicted by two different courts over related offences. Despite completing a 10-year sentence, she was still serving an additional two-year term handed down while she remained in custody.
After reviewing her case and considering her conduct, the Chief Judge ordered her release and placed her on probation for the remaining two years, directing that she report every three months.
“Go and sin no more and don’t indulge in acts that will bring you back here again,” Obot cautioned, warning that any further offence would lead to her return to custody to complete the outstanding sentence.
Some inmates were also freed after their cases stalled due to missing files, a situation linked to the prolonged absence of a prosecutor said to have been ill for about three years.
In another instance, six inmates were found to have been wrongly charged. One of them, Idara Christopher Kingsley, was detained in place of her husband after she reported a machete attack, even though her husband was the one being sought by authorities.
Addressing the freed inmates, the Chief Judge urged them to remain law-abiding and desist from actions that could return them to custody.
“I urge all you pardoned today to maintain good conduct and not to indulge in criminal activities that will bring you back here again,” she said.
Obot also criticised the conduct of some police officers who obtain remand orders and fail to return suspects to court after the stipulated 21 days, leading to prolonged and unlawful detention.
She advised magistrates to take proactive steps by fixing definite dates to strike out such cases and notifying relevant authorities where necessary, insisting that cases should be dismissed where due process is not followed.
Earlier, the Officer in Charge of the Uyo Custodial Centre, DCC Ezekiel Ebenezer Inyang, described the visit as timely, noting that the facility is grappling with severe overcrowding.
He revealed that the centre, built in 1912, currently houses over 1,600 inmates, far exceeding its capacity.
Inyang also recounted that a windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall on February 17 damaged three cell blocks and part of the perimeter fence. He, however, noted that no casualties were recorded and no inmate escaped despite the incident.
