Chief Judge, CJ, of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot has freed 55 inmates from correctional centres in the state at the weekend.
The chief judge exercised the gesture after rounding up a three-day visit to correctional centres in the state.
18 inmates were released on health grounds.
Four inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi Custodial Centre; two were released in Eket centre, 11 in Ikot Ekpene centre, while 38 and one nursing mother were freed in Uyo Custodial Centre.
The CJ’s official visit to the custodial centres across the three senatorial districts began on Wednesday, March 12 and ended on Friday, March 14.
The chief judge observed that most of the offenders committed minor offences and had over stayed in the custodial centres beyond the period they were supposed to stay, if they had been convicted.
She, however, released some on compassionate and health grounds, and lack of diligence prosecution.
A typical case in Ikot-Ekpene Custodual Centre, was a case of Friday Okoro who has been in custody for over three years without trial for stealing his cousin’s coconuts.
Obot charged them to be of good behaviour and shun all acts that might bring them back to the custodial centre.
She expressed displeasure on the number of missing case files, while the accused are still in custody with some staying more than the sentence of their crime if convicted.
She charged prosecutors on the need to ensure that no one is denied justice and they should not infringe on the fundamental rights of the accused.
Controller of Correctional Centres, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Frank Okonkwo thanked the chief judge for her consistent visit to the facilities and the goodwill extended to the custodial centres.
Okonkwo highlighted some of the challenges confronting the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of logistics to convey inmates to court.
He appealed to Governor Umo Eno to extend support and assistance to the custodial centres.
