Delta Chief Judge Frees Nursing Mother, Baby and 149 Prison Inmates
There was wild jubilation in the Warri Medium Prison as the Chief Judge of Delta State, Honourable Justice Marshal Umukoro released a large number of inmates back to society as he concludes his 2017 quarterly Prison visit in the Warri Medium Prison.
Those released include a nursing mother of a two months old baby who was standing trial for grievous harm and several others who who regained their freedom to reunite with their families for the Christmas celebration.
The Chief Judge ordered their released amidst jubilation on the grounds of ill health, lack of diligent Prosecutions by the Police, offence committed not known to law and no case to answer based on the legal advice from the Attorney-General of the State through the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Other criteria used by the CJ to free the inmates from captivity was on the ground of the validity of the remand warrants whether it was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the period the inmate has spent in custody awaiting trial and other exceptional circumstances.
Justice Marshal reviewed 3036 remand warrants presented to him by the Controller of Prisons Delta State Command Sam Iyakoregha and released a total of number of 150 inmates from the Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku, Kwale, Sapele and Warri Prisons in an exercise that started on November 14, 2017, disclosed that the visitation was in pursuant to the provision of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody (Special Provision) Act Cap, Volume 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and in order to exemplify the passionate desire of the Honourable Chief Judge to decongest the Prisons.
He said a majority of age bracket of inmates in custody fall within 17 and 27 years which according to Justice Umukoro, shows a gross dysfunction in our family system in the country, adding that many of them were from poor background but was quick to say that poverty should not be an excuse to go into crime.
Cp Sam Iyakoregha thanked the State Government on its effort to decongest the Prisons and unite families this Yuletide Period.
Mgbakor E Uche
CPRO
Delta Command
