2,690 Inmates Awaiting Trial In PH Prisons

Out of a total number of 2,994 inmates at the Port Harcourt prisons, the Rivers State capital, it is now confirmed that 2,690 are on awaiting trial.

This is even as the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu, in the last two days granted pardon to 415 inmates who were awaiting trial at the prisons as part of the 2012 gaol delivery exercise in the state, The Tide reports.

The statistics show that those inmates who were granted pardon by the state chief judge are male inmates on awaiting trial, charged for armed robbery and murder and have stayed for 3 years and above without trial, inmates charged with the offences who have stayed in prison for two years without regular court trials.

Others include female inmates awaiting trials, underaged inmates, old age inmates as well as those with critical medical challenging conditions. Speaking at the two-day event held on Monday and Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Prisons, the state Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu said the exercise was aimed at enhancing the criminal administration system in the state, adding that the law allows the Chief Judge of any state to visit the prisons to release inmates based on their merit of their cases before the court.

Justice Ndu said the consideration on whom to release was purely on merit, especially those who have been in prison custody longer than what the law requires, as well as those with health challenges.

The state Chief Judge stated that 415 inmates granted freedom, conditionally or unconditionally were not subject to pay any  monetary obligations to get their release, adding that if inmates granted freedom would be able to perfect the conditions attached to their release, it would go a long way to decongest the prisons.

He advised those who had been granted freedom to be responsible in the society and not to involve themselves in any criminal activities.

The state CJ thanked the state judiciary, the prisons, police, lawyers and the media for their cooperation towards the success of the programme.

Earlier, the Deputy Controller of Prisons, Port Harcourt Prisons, Mr Uche Nwobi had thanked the state Chief Judge, Justice Iche Ndu for finding time to visit the prisons despite his tight schedule.

He described the programme as very memorable not only to the inmates, their families and society, but more especially to Port Harcourt prisons that is groaning under the siege of intractable congestion.

In their separate speeches, the state Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Barrister Ibikiri Oforubiyo, representative of the state Commissioner of Police and OC in charge of Legal Matters, Mrs Susan Horsfall as well as the Deputy Registrar, state judiciary, Barrister A. K Adoki lauded the chief judge for the release of the inmates, noting that the gesture would go a long way to decongest the prisons.