April 5, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
The Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzokwe has freed six inmates at the Aba Federal Prisons during a jail delivery exercise in Aba.
Uzokwe also granted bail to five other inmates whose matters were still at different stages at different courts handling their matters.
The Chief Judge said those released were either unlawfully detained or would have finished their jail terms if they had been properly tried and convicted at the time of their admission into prison.
The inmates released during the exercise were Obinna Nwankwo, accused of murder and admitted to prison in 2013, Iko Mohammed, accused of traffic offence in 2013, and Peter Jonah, accused of armed robbery in 2014.
Others were Ndubuisi Uwakwe accused of robbery in 2014, Akajiaku Achilihu accused of threat to destroy property in 2014 and Udoh Akpan accused of stealing in 2013.
Although the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pleaded for a week to file cases against some of the accused persons with allegations of murder and robbery, the judge refused the DPP’s plea.
Uzokwe, angered by the DPP’s shoddy job said three years was enough for them to file information against the accused persons adding that with no charges against them, they were free.
Noting that no case was pending against them in any court of law in Nigeria, Uzokwe therefore released them to return to their homes.
The Abia CJ also granted bail to Ezere Jite, Nnamdi Chigbu, Eziaha Chigbu, who were admitted to prison in 2009 for breaking and stealing.
Others granted bail were Enyinnaya Ogudoro, 2008 for murder and Okere Azumaraonwu, 2004 for murder.
Uzokwe noted that Azumaraonwu would have been released out rightly as he has no charge pending against him but for the severity of the allegation against him, he was only granted bail.
The Deputy Controller of Prisons, (DCP) Aba Federal Prisons, Mr Stephen Ugbah told the CJ that one of the women listed for the release, Grace Isaac had died of HIV few weeks to the jail delivery.
Ugbah whose list contained many ongoing cases in Aba courts which should not be on the list drew the wrath of the Chief Judge who wondered why ongoing cases should be on the list.
Speaking with newsmen after the event, Ugbah denied the allegation that his men were taking bribe from inmates who did not merit release by the judiciary’s set criteria to list them for jail delivery.
“Such allegation is unfounded. It is found somewhere but not in Aba Prisons. When the CJ was going through the list, all the people she treated were on merit so it is not issue of giving bribe or money exchanged hands”, he said.
The DCP who said the prison had 599 inmates, 22 females and 577 males expressed joy over the gesture by the CJ adding that the release has reduced the pressure on the prison facilities.
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