Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyayi Laminkara, has released 33 inmates from Port Harcourt prisons during the jail delivery exercise.
Justice Adama Iyayi Laminkara said the exercise was aimed at releasing those who were unlawfully detained in prison.
She said that the exercise will also decongest the prison.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State also said that the jail delivery will continue early next year with Degema and Ahoada prisons.
“What we have done today is the efforts of the federal and state government to decongest the prisons. The Chief Judge of a state has the powers under the criminal justice act to come to the prison and see all those who have been unlawfully detained or those who have spent more than the number of years they would have if they had been taken to trial to release them. Some of them we grant them bail because their matters are on-going in courts” she said.
“So it is an effort we try to undertake quarterly or once in a year to try and decongest the prison. About 33 persons were discharged today while others were granted bail but yet to perform their bail conditions. Once they perfect their bail conditions they would be released” she stated.
The Justice Adama Iyayi Laminkara also advised those who benefitted from the jail delivery exercise not to go back to crime.
The Deputy Controller of prisons Rivers State command FELIX LAWRENCE said the Port Harcourt prison is housing 4,036 inmates against the statutory capacity of 804 inmates.
Felix Lawrence said that he believes that the jail delivery exercise would surely reduce the problems they are currently experiencing at the prison.
