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 move is in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice law aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring speedy dispensation of justice. The release was done after it was established that some inmates had spent periods longer than the punishment prescribed by law for the offences for which they were accused.
The inmates were released after their cases were reviewed, and it was found that some had spent more time in custody than their sentence, while others had their cases stalled through no fault of their own. Addressing the freed inmates, Justice Chibuzor-Amadi urged them to make positive contributions to society and become ambassadors of peace. He warned them against returning to crime, stressing that anyone who found himself back in custody might not be given another opportunity for release.
The Chief Judge also charged the released inmates to shun political thuggery and electoral violence as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. He urged them to use their freedom responsibly and contribute to the peace and development of Rivers State. This warning is significant, given the rising concerns about political violence in the country.
The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Rivers State, Richard Moses-Williams, commended the state judiciary for its intervention in reducing congestion at the custodial centre. He said the exercise would help improve the management of inmates and ease pressure on the facility. The release of the inmates is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
The release of the 14 inmates is part of the efforts of the Rivers State judiciary to decongest correctional facilities and ensure that justice is served speedily. The Chief Judge's initiative is in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice law, which aims to ensure that inmates are not held in custody for longer than necessary.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has been working to address the issue of congestion in correctional facilities across the country. The release of the 14 inmates is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and it is expected that other states will follow suit. The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Rivers State expressed his gratitude to the state judiciary for its support.
The freed inmates are expected to reintegrate into society and contribute to the development of Rivers State. The Chief Judge's warning against political thuggery and electoral violence is significant, given the rising concerns about political violence in the country. The release of the inmates is a positive step towards promoting peace and stability in the state.
Key points
- The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, released 14 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
- The release was done in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice law aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring speedy dispensation of justice.
- The Chief Judge warned the released inmates against political thuggery and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
