The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has freed an 18-year-old mentally challenged inmate and 122 others during her 2nd quarter, 2025, tour of the Medium Security Custodial Centres (MSCCs) in Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo.
The Chief Judge also called on officers at the Correctional facilities to ensure that hygiene is maintained to reduce the spread of communicable diseases.
Justice Obot emphasized the significance of jail delivery in safeguarding justice and fundamental human rights stressing, “This exercise aligns with the constitutional mandate of the judiciary to ensure that no person is unjustly detained without due process.”
From the 123 released inmates, four were from Ikot Abasi custodial centre, 17 from Eket centre, 29 in Ikot Ekpene centre, while 73 were set free in Uyo custodial centre, marking the end of the CJ’s three day visit.
Also 62 out of the 123 inmates were released on health grounds which involved anaemia, acabies and tuberculosis.
She instructed that the dormitory where all the sick inmates were camped should be properly sanitized and nobody should be put there for the meantime to avoid further spread of diseases.
The chief judge observed that most of the offenders had minor offences and had overstayed in the custodial centres beyond the period they were supposed to stay, if they had been convicted.
She, therefore released some on compassionate, health grounds, trump up charges, missing case files and lack of diligence prosecution.
The mentally challenged girl, who was reported to have been eating foam or any other non edible objects at sight, was released and was directed to be taken to a psychiatrist hospital in Eket for proper examination and treatment.
Also, one Etieno Okon, who was 15 years when he was detained had been in custody for five years, without trial for cultism, was released alongside his father.
The CJ, while discharging the inmates in all the centres, charged them to be of good behaviour and shun all acts that might bring them back to the custodial centre.
Obot expressed displeasure on the number of inmates awaiting trials, some without any charge preferred against them, with some staying more than the sentence of their crime if convicted.
She charged prosecutors for the need to ensure that no one was denied justice and they should not infringe on the fundamental rights of the accused.
The chief judge commended all the Judges, Magistrates, Court officials and Controller of Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom Command for their commitment and steadfastness throughout the three days exercise.
She, however, gave a sum of N300,000 to the centre to assist in the transportation of the freed inmates back to their various destinations.
In his remarks, the Controller of Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Frank Okonkwo, thanked the chief judge for her visit to the facilities and the goodwill extended to the custodial centres in the state.
Okonkwo highlighted some of the challenges confronting the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of logistics to convey inmates to court on time.
He appealed to the Chief Judge to facilitate the approval of pending requests to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, for the provision of operational vehicles, repair of existing ones, and supply of beddings, especially critical during the current cold season.