News
Rivers Acting CJ Frees 15 Prisoners

L-R: President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Boboi Kaigama;President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Ayuba Wabba, Project Director, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, Mrs Helen Jemerigbe and leader of the Nigerian delegation, Dr Clement Illoh, at the 104th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, last Wednesday.
The Rivers State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Daisy W. Okocha, has granted pardon to 15 prisoners on awaiting trial in various courts in the state.
Okocha also admitted in to bail, Mr. Ebere Orji, a level 14 Civil Servant on awaiting trial at the Federal Prisons, Port Harcourt, for over five years for allegedly standing as a surety for an accused person who is currently at large.
The Acting Chief Judge released the inmates during a gaol delivery exercise at the Port Harcourt prisons, yesterday.
Okocha, while admitting Orji to bail in the sum of N50,000 and one surety who must be resident in the state, said it was to give him chance to continue in the trial in case the court would want him to pay the bail bond.
The State Acting Chief Judge, while granting pardon to the freed inmates, told them to be of good behaviour in the society.
According to her, the exercise was sequel to the recent inauguration of the six – member Administration of Justice Committee headed by herself for the exercise in accordance with the provisions of the criminal justice (Release from custody) (Special provisions) Act (Cap. C 40 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004).
The offences that were considered during the exercise cut across abduction, defilement, cultism, rape, stealing, among others.
Among the lucky inmates who were discharged and acquitted by the state Acting Chief Judge, are a 16-year old nursing mother, Miss Mary Isaiah from Delta State, charged with conspiracy and murder as well as Miss Blessing Asu, suffering from mental discorder.
Also freed were Ejike Samuel (17), Festus Monsigia (77), Emmanuel Udoh, Sampson Braide, Micheal Ilo, ThankGod Ekene, Ibrahim Yusuf and Solomon Yellowe.
They were pardoned for staying in the prison above the years’ of their jail terms if convicted by the court as stipulated by the law.
However, Mrs Oluchi Amadi, a widow, Emmanuel Enyi, Muhammed Usman, and a Manager of Diamond Bank were not lucky to the breath fresh air of freedom, as they were told by the Acting Chief Judge to go back to the court and perfect their bail terms.
Okocha ordered the prison officers to ensure that those inmates on cultism charges and discharged by her were made to sign congnisance agreement to be of good behaviour before they are finally released from the prison.
The Chief Registrar, High Court, Leondard K. Adoki, the State Director of Public Prosecution, Members of Legal Aid Council, FIDA, Police as well as the State Controller of Prisons, were on ground to give a helping hand to the Acting Chief Judge during the exercise.
One of the prisoners, who regained freedom, Mr. Lele, told newsmen that God had transformed his life while in prison, adding that he would be of good behaviour, and not indulge in any act that would return him to the prison custody again.
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