Court Suspends Judgement To Release 150 Inmates

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order of stay of execution, in a suit filed by the State government seeking to set aside the judgment that released one hundred and fifty inmates from Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
The presiding Judge, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, in his ruling granted the stay of execution, after going through motions filed by parties in the matter. 
Nwogu said, for the interest of justice, it is best to stay the judgement earlier delivered by Justice Ollor, pending the decision of Appeal Court.
It would be recalled that on the 16th of December, 2020 the Justice Ollor of Port Harcourt High Court, had delivered a judgment releasing one hundred and fifty inmates from the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Port Harcourt.
The Tide learnt that the inmates have spent more than eight to nine years in prison custody without appearing in court, since they were remanded.
The State government following the judgement, filed a motion challenging the Judgement delivered by Justice Ollor for the unconditional release of the inmates in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre as sought by Access to Freedom International.
Meanwhile,  speaking to newsmen, Counsel representing State government, Chukwuma Eke, said they had filed appeal challenging the decision of the earlier order delivered in 2020.