About 181 inmates in various correctional centres in Rivers state have been granted pardon by the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, who also discharged and acquitted of their offences.
This development follows a two-day decongestion exercise at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre.
Speaking at the close of the exercise Justice Amadi, who was represented by the deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation, Chief Magistrate Friday Poromon, said the exercise was a prelude to the 2022/2023 state legal year ceremony.
He said, “On November 22, I will embark on another goal delivery exercise as activities put together to herald the 2022/2023 legal year in the state.”
While addressing the freed inmates, the Chief Judge said that society contributed more to the congestion of the facilities.
“Members of the society have also contributed largely to what we have here. It is sad.
“Simple civil disputes, quarrel over boundaries; people rush to the police stations and insist that the police must bring very heavy charges.
“We also want to put members of the public on notice that the magistracy is no longer a place where you bring any charge from the police stations to get the charge rubber-stamped for the purpose of bringing people here,” Amadi noted.
He said the state judiciary will ensure it tackled the challenges leading to delays in the speedy delivery of justice while noting that “reforms are ongoing within our criminal justice administration system.”
The Chief Judge advised the freed inmates to change their ways and become responsible citizens.
On his part, the state Comptroller of Corrections, Felix Lawrence, who spoke through the Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Magnus Uchegbu, thanked the chief judge for the exercise.
