In a bid to decongest correctional facilities, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Fabian Obot, has granted freedom to 55 inmates across four custodial centres in Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot-Ekpene, and Uyo.
Among those released were a nursing mother who gave birth in custody and a mentally challenged man. Additionally, 18 inmates were freed on medical grounds due to illnesses such as leprosy, tuberculosis, kidney failure, and HIV/AIDS.
The three-day jail delivery exercise aimed to provide a second chance to deserving inmates who had shown signs of rehabilitation. During the special sessions, Justice Obot meticulously reviewed case files and found that many inmates had been detained for minor offences, often spending more time in custody than their potential sentences if convicted.
She granted clemency to individuals whose trials had been stalled or who had been detained longer than their possible sentences. Others were released on compassionate and health grounds, while some were freed due to a lack of diligent prosecution or missing case files.
Justice Obot urged the released inmates to embrace positive change and avoid actions that could lead them back to prison. She also instructed the welfare unit of the correctional centre to locate the family of the mentally challenged man, Daniel Bassey Ukpong, so he could receive proper medical care.
Expressing concern over prolonged detentions without trial, the Chief Judge criticized the breach of inmates’ rights and the sluggish judicial process. She called on prosecutors to uphold justice and protect fundamental human rights.
One of the beneficiaries, Friday Okoro from the Ikot-Ekpene custodial centre, had spent over three years in custody without trial for allegedly stealing coconuts from his cousin.
Another inmate, Blessing Iniobong George, a mother of three nursing a two-month-old baby, recounted how she was falsely accused of child theft while pregnant. She explained that during her late father-in-law’s vigil, she fell asleep among other women, only to be accused the next morning of stealing a baby that had been placed beside her.
Two siblings, Udeme Edet Etim and Unyime Edet Etim, were also freed after being locked up for five years over accusations of conspiracy and theft, allegedly orchestrated by their elder brother.
From Eket custodial centre, Friday Nkereuwem narrated how he ended up in prison after being accused of abducting his girlfriend, whom he had taken to introduce to his parents in Calabar. Upon their return to Akwa Ibom, his girlfriend’s father had him arrested.
Justice Obot blamed the slow justice system on the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for its backlog of unattended cases and urged them to improve efficiency. She also condemned the issue of missing case files and directed the Officer in Charge of Legal Matters to address the concern.
The Chief Judge encouraged the released inmates to turn a new leaf and avoid returning to prison.
Meanwhile, officers in charge of the correctional facilities and the Controller of Corrections in Akwa Ibom State, Frank Okonkwo, commended Justice Obot for her commitment to justice and fairness. They acknowledged the positive impact of her actions and highlighted ongoing challenges in managing the facilities.
