A 28-year-old Shadrach Hanson, who had spent over one year in custody for stealing his mother’s cooking pot was set free by the Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, on Thursday.
Hanson who was awaiting trial at a correctional centre in the state after spending one year and four months in custody was among the 44 inmates set free by the Chief Judge .
“I do not consider it serious enough for you to spend one year and four months in custody. You are hereby released unconditionally, make sure you are of good behavior and don’t do anything that will make you come back here,” Chief Judge ruled.
The freed inmates comprised two females and 42 males of different age brackets who were accused of minor crimes.
Also, Otuekong Essien accused of stealing cassava tubers, who had stayed up to four months in custody, suffers from perforated ulcer and appendicitis as certified by the custodial doctor. He was released on health grounds at the Ikot Abasi centre.
For Kufre Sylvester and many others accused of cultism and conspiracy, whose case files could not be found and had spent over two years in jail, Justice Obot upheld that they should be released unconditionally.
This was the outcome of the CJ’s 2024 first inspection visit to the correctional centres in the state located at Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo.
*Tour case files cannot be found and keeping you here will amount to breech of your fundamental rights and it’s on this premise that you are released unconditionally,” the CJ said.
The chief judge said that those granted pardon were inmates with minor offences who had overstayed in custody while awaiting trial.
Six inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi, five in Eket, 11 in Ikot Ekpene while 24 inmates, including two females were freed in Uyo.
Obot noted that inasmuch as she would love the correctional facilities to be decongested, she would not release anyone who had committed violent and major crimes to continue unleashing mayhem in the society.
She said justice will take its full course in such cases.
Justice Obot before granting them pardon went through all the case files and observed that most of the beneficiaries’ period of stay in the centres without trial was enough punishment for the minor offences such as stealing of palm fruits, cassava, assault among others which they were accused of and ordered that they be released unconditionally.
Some others were released on compassionate grounds and want of prosecution.
“They are mostly inmates who were charged with minor offences such as petty stealing and assault, we ordered that they should be released unconditionally.
“Some of them were released on compassionate and health grounds, we asked them to go home and be of good behaviour,” she said.
Obot expressed the commitment of the state judiciary not to grant freedom to anyone who would be a detriment to the society.
“It is our policy not to leave the correctional facilities over congested, but we won’t release people who committed violent and major crimes,” she said.
She urged Mr Julius Ezegwu, the Controller of Correctional Centres in the state to ensure that the welfare of inmates was promoted.
“Inmates should utilise their stay under you to acquire skills and education. Schools should be established within the centres.
“I have observed from my visits that there are training facilities for inmates, but it shouldn’t end there,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Controller, Ezugwu thanked the Chief Judge for her consistent visits to the facilities and the goodwill she has extended thus far.
He highlighted some of the challenges bedeviling the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of vehicles to take inmates to court.
