The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaete Fabian F-Obot, has effected the release of 63 additional inmates from Uyo Custodial Centre, as she concluded her tour of correctional centres across the state.
The latest addition brings the number of freed inmates this year to 100, an unprecedented figure, having released 37 from Ikot Abasi, Eket and Ikot Ekpene custodian centres last week.
The release of the 63 inmates followed a careful review of their cases, including input from the Director of Public Prosecution, court clerks, and medical personnel within the correctional system.
A statement obtained from the judiciary press unit on Wednesday said 24 inmates out of the number were discharged on special grounds, while 39 were pardoned on compassionate grounds, including missing case files, trumped-up charges, and lack of diligent prosecution.
Among the special cases were 20 inmates suffering from serious health conditions, including one Godwin Francis Etim, who, battling tuberculosis, was referred to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Ikot Ekpene for treatment.
Also released to access special care was a pregnant inmate in her final trimester, facing medical complications beyond the facility’s capacity.
Another notable case was that of one Magdalene Bassey Edet, whose situation highlighted the importance of regular inspection.
According to the statement, she had been convicted by two different courts on separate charges arising from the same offence.
Having already completed a 10-year sentence, she was serving an additional two-year term for the same matter, having been convicted by another court while serving the 10-year term.
In granting her release, the CJ acknowledged the report of her good conduct and placed her on probation for the remaining two years, requiring her to report every three months.
“Go and sin no more and don’t indulge in acts that will bring you back here,” the CJ warned.
Among those released on other grounds were four inmates whose cases could not proceed due to missing files, reportedly linked to the prolonged illness of a prosecutor absent for about three years.
Six others were found to have been wrongfully charged.
One such case involved Idara Christopher Kingsley, who had been detained in place of her husband after reporting a machete assault against her.
Her husband was wanted in connection with a fight involving family members, but she was arrested instead.
The chief judge urged all released inmates to maintain good conduct and refrain from returning to crime.
“I urge you all to maintain good conduct and not to indulge in criminal activities that will bring you back here,” the CJ added.
She criticised the practice by some police officers of obtaining remand orders and abandoning cases without returning to court after the stipulated 21 days.
She also advised magistrates to take proactive steps by fixing dates to strike out such cases and notify relevant parties, emphasising that cases should be struck out where there is a failure to follow due process.
Welcoming the CJ to the facility, the Officer in Charge, DCC Ezekiel Inyang, described the visit as timely, noting that the custodial centre was grappling with severe overcrowding.
He revealed that the facility, built in 1912, is significantly overstretched, with over 1,600 inmates.
He recounted the impact of a recent windstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall on Tuesday, February 17, which damaged three cell blocks and brought down part of the perimeter fence, plunging the facility into disarray.
He, however, said there were no casualties, nor were there escapees.