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From Isaac Job , Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge Justice Ekaete Obot, has announced the freedom of an 18 year old girl including 123 inmates from Akwa Ibom Correctional Centres .
It was gathered that the 18 year old girl was said to have been mentally deranged and developed a strange eating habit while in custody .
Justice Obot released the inmates during the 2nd quarter, 2025 tour of the Medium Security Custodial Centres across the state
From the figure of inmates released, four were from Ikot Abasi custodial centre; 17 from Eket centre, 29 in Ikot Ekpene centre, while 73 were set free in Uyo custodial centre marking the end of the CJ’s three day visit.
According to the Chief Judge, out of the number, 123 inmates were released on health grounds bordering on diseases such as anaemia, scabies and tuberculosis.
The CJ who was worried about the spread of diseases in the centres, instructed that the dormitory which all the sick inmates were camped be properly sanitized and that nobody should be put there for the meantime to avoid further spread of diseases.
In exercising her constitutional rights , the CJ observed that most of the offenders had minor offences and had overstayed in the custodial centres beyond the period they were supposed to stay, if they had been convicted.
The Chief said “those released were on compassionate , health grounds, trump up charges, missing case files and lack of diligence prosecution”.
The mentally challenged girl was released and was directed to be taken to psychiatrists hospital in Eket for proper examination and treatment.
Also one Etieno Okon, who was 15 years when he was detained had been in custody for five years, without trial for cultism charge with his father was released.
The CJ, while discharging the inmates in all the centres, charged them to be of good behaviour and shun all acts that might bring them back to the custodial centre.
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” I am not happy with the number of inmates awaiting trials, some without any charge preferred against them still in custody, with some staying more than the sentence of their crime if convicted.
” Prosecutors should ensure that no one is denied justice and they should not infringe on the fundamental rights of the accused”.
The chief judge commended all the Judges, Magistrates, Court officials and Controller of Correctional Centre in Akwa Ibom Command for their commitment and steadfastness throughout the three days exercise.
Chief Justice Obot prayed God Almighty to grant the sick ones released speedy recovery and sustained those still in incarceration.
She, however gave a sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira to the centre to assist in the transportation of the freed inmates back to their various destinations.
The CJ empathized the need for hygiene management at custodian centres and called on officers at the Correctional facilities to ensure that hygiene is maintained to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.
While highlighting the significance of jail delivery in safeguarding justice and fundamental human rights, the CJ said that the exercise aligns with the constitutional mandate of the Judiciary to ensure that no person is unjustly detain without due process.
“This exercise aligns with the constitutional mandate of the judiciary to ensure that no person is unjustly detained without due process.”
In his remarks, the Controller of Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Frank Okonkwo, thanked the chief judge for her visit to the facilities and the goodwill extended to the custodial centres in the state.
Okonkwo highlighted some of the challenges confronting the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of logistics to convey inmates to court on time.
” I hereby appeal to the Chief Judge to facilitate the approval of pending requests to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for the provision of operational vehicles, repair of existing ones, and supply of beddings—especially critical during the current cold season”.
