The Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Adanma Inyie Iyaye-Laminkara, has freed 49 inmates awaiting trial for various offences at the Federal Prisons, in Port Harcourt.
Speaking during the gaol delivery exercise at the Port Harcourt Maximum Prison, yesterday, Justice Iyaye-Laminkara said, the exercise was part of the activities marking the state’s Golden Jubilee celebration.
She stated that the Golden Jubilee celebration has now brought relief to awaiting trial inmates as they are part of the Rivers society, explaining that the inmates should partake and share in the joy of the state’s Golden Jubilee celebration.
According to her, the Jubilee dated back to biblical era, where people in bondage were granted liberty, adding that the concept of this years’ gaol delivery exercise was commemoration of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in the state.
“Rivers State is 50 years old (Golden Jubilee), having been created in May, 1967. This gaol delivery is a special one, it is done to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Rivers State”, she added.
Iyaye-Laminkara averred that she acted based on the powers conferred on her by the Special Provisions Act Cap 40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which empowers the chief judge of the state to carry out yearly or quarterly gaol delivery exercise.
The state chief judge expressed hope that the state governor will exercise his executive powers on prerogative mercy under the Constitution to release from prison custody, those inmates who may not be covered within her powers as a result of the offences for which they are standing trial.
She promised that the exercise would be conducted periodically as part of efforts at decongesting the prison, and added that the courts were not to blame for the congestion of prisons, but rather the society.
She called for the construction of modern prisons across the country, adding that prisons should be places of reformation, and not locations for intensive hardship.
The number one state Judiciary officer urged the freed inmates to be of good behaviour, and work for the betterment of the society rather than constituting a problem to the society, adding that they may not be lucky again, should they return to the prison.
“Do not go back to the society to commit crime; you may not be lucky like this again. Go home and repent, contribute to making the society better”, she added.
Earlier in his speech, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, Port Harcourt Prison, Mr. Loveday H. Omu, who represented the Controller General of Prisons, said the Port Harcourt Prison was currently housing 3,981 inmates, out of which 3,493 are awaiting trial persons (ATPs).
He appealed for consideration to be given to those qualified and outright releases granted so as to reduce the huge number of inmates in the prison, adding that such gesture would help to decongest the prison.
Our correspondent reports that consideration were given to those inmates who are on bail since 2010, 2012, and 2016, and could not perfect their bail conditions, as well as those with critical mental and health challenges.
The exercise continues, today.