Respite has come to 104 inmates of the three prison facilities in Enugu State, as they have finally breathed the sweet air of freedom, following the intervention of Raymond Ozoemana, the Chief Judge of the state, who ordered their release on bail.
Ozoemena, during a visit to the facilities during the weekend, also discharged and acquitted 32 inmates from jail, and released three juveniles brought to the Enugu Custodial Centre on Friday, in what he termed a sacred duty to ensure that “the rights of every citizen are not infringed upon.”
In all 17 courts sitting were conducted in what is termed jail delivery, aimed at ensuring that every inmate would be accorded the constitutionally guaranteed right of fair hearing, the CJ, said.
“This exercise has been carried out over the year by the Chief Judge and assisted by the Honourable Judges of the High Court in this sacred duty. I wish to thank the correctional centre and other stakeholders for their painstaking efforts to ensure that today’s exercise is hitch free.
“Permit me to also thank His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for providing the financial support to enable us carry out this exercise,” he said.
Nicholas Obiako, Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, who enthused at the occasion, that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) under the leadership of Controller-General, Haliru Nababa, was poised to provide the opportunity for inmates to develop their capacities, added: “The service has provided educational programmes up to university level and functional workshops; these programmes can only be realised if the inmates are reintegrated through exercise like this where their cases are fast-tracked.”
He maintained that the jail delivery was an important tool for yard management as it was a ray of light which inmates look forward to gain their freedom, as a behavioural guide while in custody.
His words: “I am hopeful that this exercise under your lordship will lead to the release of deserving inmates which will help stabilise the custodial centres. Inmates from Nsukka and Oji-River Custodial Centres are all here for the cases to be heard and reviewed.”
Sunday Usifo, Deputy Controller of Corrections in the state, while thanking the CJ for the successful exercise as well as the unprecedented number of inmates discharged and bailed, added: “We sincerely appreciate you and the judiciary under your jurisdiction for this noble achievement today because this has rekindled hope in our inmates. It will further strengthen the adage that ‘the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.”
