December 22, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
The Abia State Chief
Judge, Justice Theresa Uzokwe has freed four accused persons during a jail
delivery exercise at Aba prisons.
Uzokwe also and granted five others whose cases were
at different stages at different courts in the area bail.
The Chief Judge said that those released either were
unlawfully detained, under-aged or had their remand warrant expired without the
Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) filing information to process their
trial.
The released inmates were Sopuruchi Nnabugwu, detained
in October 2017 following accusation of stealing yam but he said he did not
steal but indeed unknowingly ate from broth of stolen yam.
Others are Wisdom Onyekachukwu,under-aged, detained
in November 2017 for alleged burglary, stealing and malicious injuries, Emmanuel
John, detained October 2017 for conspiracy to murder, arson, stealing and
malicious injury.
Emeka Iheanyi, detained in April 2017 but accused of
armed robbery was among those freed.
The CJ lamented the shoddy work of the DPP and urged
that they do their work properly to ensure that people who should not be in
prisons are not taken there.
However, the CJ granted bail to five others namely: Ofoke
Osuku detained in November for alleged
conspiracy and stealing, and Chinelo Edebeatu, detained in November 2017
and accused of breaking and stealing.
Others were Prince Uchenna accused of burglary and
stealing and detained in November 2017, Izuchi Nwaforala, accused of kidnapping
and detained in May 2016.
Uwakwe said she was granting Izuchi who was accused
of kidnapping and selling of two of their male siblings between ages 2 and 4 bail
but would not want her matter to be compromised.
She charged the prosecution to ensure that her
release would come after she had testifies against her elder brother and sister
who she said masterminded the selling of their father’s two sons from another
mother.
She warned her not change her story later adding
that she would face more severe punishment if she recants later.
The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Aba Federal
Prisons, DCP Stephen Ugbah told the CJ that the prison has no place to keep
under-aged inmates and asked for assistance.
The Chief Judge promised to return in January 2018
to treat the cases of many inmates especially women and under-aged persons whose
cases were not dealt with for want of time.
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