The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, has released 14 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre as part of activities marking the opening of the 2026/2027 Legal Year. This exercise was carried out pursuant to Section 1 of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act. The goal is to decongest correctional facilities in the state.
According to Justice Chibuzor-Amadi, those released were inmates who had overstayed the period prescribed by law if they had been convicted of the alleged offences. Others whose trials had stalled not due to their own fault, but that of government agencies or the judiciary, were also released. The Chief Judge advised officials of the correctional centre to avoid premature disclosure of the list of inmates billed for release to other inmates.
Addressing the freed inmates, Justice Chibuzor-Amadi charged them to return to society as ambassadors of peace and live exemplary lives. He warned that any of them who returns to the facility for criminal activities may not be fortunate to benefit from such a gesture again. The Chief Judge also reminded them that the political season had commenced and cautioned them against allowing themselves to be used by politicians to foment trouble.
The Chief Judge's warning was necessitated by the fact that many youths have fallen victim to political violence. He urged the freed inmates to be mindful of their actions and avoid being used as tools for political thuggery. This warning is significant, given the current political climate in the country.
In his remarks, the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Rivers State Command, Richard Moses-Williams, commended the Rivers State judiciary led by Justice Chibuzor-Amadi for the jail delivery exercise. Moses-Williams said the importance of the decongestion exercise cannot be over-emphasised, particularly in addressing overcrowding in custodial centres.
The decongestion exercise is a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by correctional facilities in Nigeria. Overcrowding is a major issue in many custodial centres, and such exercises help to reduce the burden on these facilities. The Rivers State judiciary's effort in this regard is noteworthy.
The release of the 14 inmates is a positive development in the efforts to promote justice and reform in the country's correctional system. The freed inmates are expected to reintegrate into society and contribute positively to their communities. Key points include:
Key points
- The release of 14 inmates was carried out pursuant to Section 1 of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act.
- The exercise aimed to decongest correctional facilities and address overcrowding.
- The Chief Judge warned the freed inmates against being used for political thuggery and urged them to live exemplary lives.
