…Another inmate accused of stealing cassava tubers gets pardon after four months in prison
…As State Chief Judge grants unconditional pardon to 44 prisoners
For stealing a pot belonging to his mother, Shadrach Hanson, 28, spent one year and four months in a prison in Akwa Ibom State.
He was among the 44 inmates that regained their freedom after Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Ekaette Fabian Obot visited a number of correctional facilities and granted them unconditional pardon.
The freed inmates comprised two females and 42 males of different ages who were in custody awaiting trial for minor offences.
This was the outcome of the 2024 first inspection visit to the correctional centres in the state by the Chief Judge where Six inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi centre, five inmates benefitted in Eket custodial centre, 9 in Ikot Ekpene centre while 24 inmates including two females were freed in Uyo custodial centre.
Justice Obot, before granting them pardon, went through all the case files and observed that most of the beneficiaries’ period of stay in the centres without trial was enough punishment for the minor offences such as stealing of palm fruits, cassava, assault, among others which they were accused of and ordered that they be released unconditionally.
Some, the Chief judge released on compassionate, health grounds and want of prosecution and charged them to go home and be of good behaviour.
One of the freed inmates, Otuekong Essien accused of stealing cassava tubers had stayed for four months in custody and suffered from perforated ulcer and appendicitis as certified by the custodial doctor was released on health grounds at the Ikot Abasi centre, even as 28-year-old Shadrach Hanson who had spent over one year in custody for stealing his mother’s cooking pot was also set free.
“I do not consider it serious enough for you to spend one year and four months in custody. You are hereby released unconditionally, make sure you are of good behaviour and don’t do anything that will make you come back here,” the Chief Judge ruled.
For Kufre Sylvester and many others accused of cultism and conspiracy whose case files could not be found and had spent over two years in jail; Justice Obot held that they should be released unconditionally, saying “your case files cannot be found and keeping you here will amount to breech of your fundamental rights and it’s on this premise that you are released unconditionally.”
Obot noted that in-as-much as she would love the correctional facilities to be decongested, she would not release anyone who had committed violent and major crimes to continue unleashing mayhem to the society as she would allow justice to take its full course.
She charged the State Controller of Corrections, Julius Ezegwu to ensure full reformation and rehabilitation of inmates, saying that apart from giving them skill, they should be exposed to education.
Justice Obot therefore, called for the establishment of schools within the correctional centres so that those within the teenage age or young adults can be enrolled for a better future.
She expressed commitment to write to the governor, having known that matters of correctional service is now in the concurrent list to assist the centres in possible areas such as vehicles to take inmates to court and for other logistics.
“I have observed from my visits that there are training facilities for inmates, but it shouldn’t end there. There should also be establishment of schools so that those within the teenage age and those willing would be enrolled. This will enable them have better future. We should not condemn totally because of the situation they found themselves. I advocate that apart from the craft, thy should be exposed to secular education,” Justice Obot said.
In his remarks, the State Controller, Ezugwu thanked the Chief Judge for her consistent visit to the facilities and the goodwill she has extended so far.
He highlighted some of the challenges faced by the centre which he said included dilapidated facilities and lack of vehicles to take inmates to court as well as other issues while lauding Governor Umo Eno for the to the Nigerian Correctional Service in the state.
