Rivers Chief Judge Frees 124 Prison Inmates
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye Lamikanra released 124 Inmates during the Jail Delivery exercise that lasted four days, from Monday 30th Nov to Thursday 3rd Dec 2020, as she visited Custodial centers in the state as part of her oversight functions to ensure Justice and the needs for decongestion of custodial centers in Rivers state.
Among the beneficiaries are : those who have spent five years and above, those with minor offences, those who have been charged to court but not standing trial in any court, those who’s trials are not going on properly, and those who have health challenges.
Due to the population in Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Justice Lamikanra took two days, Monday 30th Nov and Thursday 3rd Dec 2020, to properly look at cases at the centre and fifty seven (57) Inmates were released unconditionally
Ahoada Medium Security Custodial Center was visited by the Chief Judge on Tuesday 1st Dec 2020, and forty two (42) Inmates regained their freedom.
While Degema Medium Security Custodial center saw twenty five (25) Inmates released.
Justice Lamikanra, who also granted bail to six (6) Inmates, from the three Custodial Centres, urged them to make good use of this opportunity and stay away from crime as they will not be this lucky next time they are in conflict with the law.
On behalf of the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Ahmed Ja’afaru, the Controller of Corrections, Rivers State Command, AO Oditah, appreciated the Chief Judge and her team for a wonderful work and also for putting smiles on the faces of deserving inmates. He urged the Department of Public Prosecution to speed up their process of tending to files so inmates won’t wait on DPP’s advice endlessly.
CC Oditah further encouraged the CJ to implement the Non Custodial Measures of the Nigerian Correctional Service as a means of decongesting the Custodial Centres.
DSC Juliet Ofoni
Public Relations Officer
Rivers State Command
