By Agnes Igwe, Abakaliki
The Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, has set free a total of thirty eight awaiting trial inmates of both Abakaliki and Afikpo Federal prisons.
Justice Nwankwo released the inmates on the grounds that despite the long time ranging from one to five years they had stayed as awaiting-trial inmates, they had no case files and no information about them was filed at the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, making it impossible for them to have ever been brought to court.
A very pathetic case among them was that of a young woman, one Mrs. Victoria Ebenyi, held in place of her husband accused of attempted murder and arson.
Ebenyi has spent over one year in the prison, despite the fact that the main suspect, her husband, is already being prosecuted.
Others cases include those of a septuagenarian and a 49-year-old woman, who had spent eleven months and five years, respectively, for alleged defilement of a minor and murder, along with 23 others awaiting trial in Abakaliki Prisons.
Justice Nwankwo freed the inmates during a prison decongestion exercise otherwise referred to as gaol/ jail delivery.
At the Abakaliki Federal prisons, a total of 26 persons were freed in the following categories: 16 inmates were discharged, eight granted bail on conditions while two others were granted bail on self- recognition.
Also at Afikpo Federal Prisons, a total of 12 persons regained their freedom, including two granted bail on self-recognition, two granted bail on conditions while eight others were discharged.
The Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Ebonyi State chapter, Barrister Emeka Anosike, who filed bail applications on behalf of the accused, said that the 70-year old inmate, John Nomeh, had been on awaiting trial since June 27, 2018.
He informed the court that the accused was detained over a year ago in prison and had never been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction and had no case file, adding that information had not been filed by the Department of Public Prosecution in the case.
Anosike prayed the chief judge to discharge the accused for lack of prosecution or in the alternative, grant him bail.
The state Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Isreal Alobu, said that the offence allegedly committed by the accused was punishable under the Child Rights Act of Ebonyi State.
“My lord, the offence the accused allegedly committed is punishable under the Child’s Rights act of Ebonyi state.We have not filed information on the case because the police have not made the case file available to us and consequently, we are not opposed to the bail application,” Alaobu said.
Consequently, the chief judge granted the accused bail on self-recognition.
“The accused, who has been on awaiting trial since June 27, 2018, without information filed on the matter and without a case file, is hereby granted bail on self-recognition,” the CJ said.
Also, Roseline Nwuguru, a 49-year old female inmate accused of murder, was detained at the facility since October 16, 2014, and had not attended court, was granted bail on conditions.
Other suspects; Mr. Chidi Onwe, Solomon Aleke, accused of unlawful possession of a firearm; Sunday Igwe accused of housebreaking and on awaiting trial for over 18 months; Uche Nwankwo and Chinonso Igwe, among other inmates, were also released.
Meanwhile, the CJ at the end of the exercise, said that he carried out the function under the Criminal Justice Release from Prisons Act and urged the released inmates to go and sin no more.
The Controller of Nigeria Prisons Service, Ebonyi State Command, Mrs. Emelia Oputa, commended the CJ for releasing the inmates, noting that the exercise would decongest the facility, which she disclosed was overstretched.
She urged the freed inmates to make good use of their new freedom and shun further indulgence in crime or criminality.
Oputa said, “The exercise will make them feel a heavy relief and it will also make them feel that they are being remembered. I want them to appreciate the gesture, abstain from criminal activities and that they should go and sin no more.
“The exercise will decongest the prisons which has a capacity of 387 and currently admits 1,179, both convicted and awaiting inmates.”
One of the freed inmates, Mrs. Victoria Ebenyi, who was held for over one year in place of her husband, said amid tears, “I thank God today for sending this man to speak for me. I stayed here up till now because I’m poor. Why would they still keep me here if I had money or big people, when they had caught my husband. As I speak with you, I don’t know the whereabouts of my children, since I’ve been here with my husband. The person brought here with me has gone long ago. In fact, in my next life, I will not be poor.”
