Chief Judges Frees 43 Inmates from Custodial Centre in Rivers

Chief Judges Frees 43 Inmates from Custodial Centre in Rivers

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Laminkara concludes her three days routine visit to Custodial Centres in Rivers State, and released 43 inmates unconditionally and 2 were released on bail to continue their trials in court.

The visit according to Justice Laminkara, was in line with her functions to decongest the overcrowded Custodial Centres.
The exercise was witnessed by top Judicial Officers, Officials of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, Lawyers, Prosecutors, the Police and Officials of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The Controller of Corrections, Rivers State Command, Mr Olumide Tinuoye, appreciated the Chief Judge and her team for visiting Ahoada and Port Harcourt Custodial Centres, and more importantly for listening to one of the beneficiaries who is a 65 years old male and has been in custody for over 7years for defilement. He further stated that had the CJ listened to other inmates with capital offences, perhaps more inmates would have been set free.

The Controller suggested that there is need for the CJ to give a definite instruction to both the arresting Agencies and the DPP to come up with concrete information on every inmate to be considered for the CJ to be well informed before the Jail delivery day, stating that the Judiciary should disabuse their minds from the notion that the Nigerian Correctional Service wants criminals to be released back to the society but they should note that it helps the job of corrections if they are convicted than remand.

The Controller concluded that the visit will help to reduce agitation and restiveness among the Inmates during this Yuletide season, while soliciting for more support from the State Government, NGOs and well meaning citizens of the State as 90% of Inmates in Custody are from Rivers State.

DSC Juliet Ofoni
Command PRO
Rivers State Command