Cross River State Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Maurice Odey Eneji, has today, released 13 inmates from the Correctional Service Centre, Obubra, in compliance to the federal government’s directive to decongest Correctional Facilities across the country.
Justice Eneji, while addressing Prison Officers and Counsels, said, the exercise was in line with the directive’s of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, to decongest Correctional Centres in the States, in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
The ACJ further explained that the guidelines for the inmates released were those charged for minor offences, the under age, the old aged, the very sick, those with strange offences such that, they are not backed by law and, those with 2-3 month to expiration of jail term in the Correctional Centre, Obubra.
In records, 9 inmates on Awaiting Trial and 4 Convicts with 2-3 months to go were discharged.
The Acting Chief Judge conveyed gratitude to the Officer-In-Charge, Obubra Correctional Centre, Mr. M. O. Otogo, for keeping the environment clean and habitable. The ACJ, also thanked the Director of Public Persecution (DPP), Justice Emmanuel Ubua, (Judge, Obubra High Court) and, the Learned Counsel on their fair values and diligent contributions in the exercise.
