Citing extended imprisonment and a lack of attentive prosecution, Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge Justice Ekaete Fabian-Obot on Thursday ordered the release of 37 prisoners from detention facilities throughout the state.
During her routine review of the penitentiary facilities at Ikot Abasi, Eket, and Ikot-Ekpene, she virtually issued the directive.
The current examination, which started on Monday, is scheduled to conclude with a visit to the Uyo custodial center on Tuesday of next week.
According to Naija News, eight of the 37 prisoners who were released were liberated due to health issues, and the remaining 29 were released due to charity and lack of prosecution.
Two prisoners were released from Ikot Abasi, eight from Eket, and twenty-seven from Ikot-Ekpene correctional center, according to a breakdown.
The Chief Judge denounced the practice of detaining suspects for years without a trial while speaking at court sessions held within the facilities.
After looking over a number of case files, she declared, “I release you unconditionally because it is unconstitutional to keep you for too long without trial.”
“Most of the charges are trumped up; some lack prosecution,” she added to the released prisoners. Go home, behave well, and refrain from doing anything that will lead to your return.
Charity Augustine, 18, who had been detained for more than a year on four counts of theft, was one of those freed.
When granting Augustine’s release on compassionate grounds, Justice Fabian-Obot stated that she took into account both her age and the nature of the alleged offense, stealing garri.
However, the adolescent was put on probation for six months, and an officer was tasked with keeping an eye on her behavior.
Aniekan John and Ndifreke Koffi, two prisoners at the Ikot Abasi detention facility, were also sent free before serving out their terms.
As part of the efforts to guarantee good behavior, they were instructed to report to the facility every three months.
A number of suspects who had been awaiting trial for more than three years for minor offenses like fighting, assault, and stealing farm produce were also released during the exercise. Among those released were those people who had been detained during the EndSARS demonstrations.
In order to avoid needless delays that add to the backlog in detention facilities, the Chief Judge advised attorneys and law enforcement officials to handle cases with greater diligence.
She cautioned against leaving released prisoners behind and advocated for support systems to aid in their reintegration.
In order to prevent leaving them stranded, she believes that arrangements should be made to return them to their homes.
The poor condition of the facilities and the growing number of inmates were previously criticized by the authorities in charge of the custodial centers.
According to Boniface Momoh, the Deputy Controller of Corrections at the Ikot-Ekpene Custodial Center, the institution was initially built to house 400 prisoners, but it now houses nearly 700.
Inadequate water supply and a shortage of functional automobiles, exacerbated by the high cost of fuel, were among the problems he identified for the center.
Momoh urged Umo Eno to step in and address the worsening circumstances in detention facilities, pleading with the Chief Judge to take the matter to the state administration.
