BY PEACE AIKHUERE -CALEB
IN a move aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and upholding the rights of awaiting trial inmates, the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Theresa Diai, paid a visit to the Sapele Custodial Centre
The visit, conducted under the jail delivery exercise of the state judiciary, resulted in the release of six inmates, some of whom had been held for weeks without substantial evidence.
Justice Diai, who arrived at the facility around 10 a.m., was accompanied by other members of the judiciary including Justice A.E. Okorodas, Hon. Justice A.A. Ighoverio, Hon. Justice R.N. Ossai, and Hon. Justice Joe Egwu.
The visit was marked by a thorough review of case files and interactions with inmates to identify those, who had been unjustly detained or whose cases lacked merit.
Among those released was Mr. Adidi Azunya, who narrated his ordeal to journalists. “I was arrested following a fight that happened in my compound, but I wasn’t even there when it occurred. I only called to beg them to stop, and when I saw it was escalating, I fled to my wife’s village. The police came and arrested me. I’ve been in prison for over a month with no evidence against me,” he said, expressing joy at regaining his freedom. “I thank God and the Chief Judge. My advice to the youth is to be law-abiding. May God bless the judge.”
Another freed inmate, Mr. Desmond Kingsley, recounted how he was wrongly accused of kidnapping. “We were just in Abraka to buy food when we were arrested. They took us to Asaba and later brought us here to Sapele. I’ve spent over a month in prison. I’m not a kidnapper,” he said. Kingsley urged youths to find productive engagements and prayed for divine protection upon the Chief Judge.
Mr. KeKeKe Jonathan, also released, revealed that he was accused of conspiracy and attempted murder. “We were granted bail at the Area Command, but the IPO invited us back the next day. We didn’t know it was a setup. They took us to court and we ended up here. It was a civil matter, but they framed us. I thank God for freedom,” he said, advising youths to remain calm and avoid unnecessary trouble. “To the judge, I say thank you and may God bless you.”
For Mr. Kingsley Desmond, the visit marked an end to a nightmare. “I went to the station to check on my dad. Someone there pointed at me saying I’m a cultist. I was detained for 14 days, taken to court, and brought here. No evidence was found against me. I thank the Chief Judge for setting me free,” he said, advising fellow youths to shun crime and criminality.
Mr. Usman Adamu, visibly emotional, expressed gratitude despite his ordeal. “I leave everything in God’s hands. I thank the judge for doing a good job,” he said. Adamu, who hails from Edo State, was among those accused of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, but was later discharged for lack of evidence.
During the event, the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Sapele Custodial Centre, Mr. M.A. Egbe, thanked the Chief Judge and her team for their continued visits. “Exercises like this help reduce the congestion in our facilities. We currently have 291 inmates—289 males and 2 females—in a facility built for 293. But the rising number of youths, between the age of 18 and 25 being admitted is alarming,” he said. Mr. Egbe called for public sensitization on youth behaviuor and crimes and advocated for the establishment of virtual courts to ease the burden on the centre.
While appreciating the cooperation between the judiciary and correctional staff, Egbe also decried the challenges facing the centre, including poor logistics and manpower shortages. “We have only two very old vehicles which can break down at any time. Sometimes, we lack the manpower to escort inmates to multiple courts. We appeal to the judiciary to bear with us in such instances,” he said.
The session also saw the release of Addi Azunya and David Onajite, who were accused of attempted murder, and Michael Tyo, who like Kingsley Desmond, was accused of kidnapping. The Chief Judge, in her remarks, emphasized the need for fairness and justice while urging security agencies to carry out proper investigations before arrests are made.
As the visit came to a close, family members of the freed inmates expressed overwhelming joy, thanking the judiciary for upholding justice. The exercise not only brought relief to the inmates but also served as a stern reminder of the importance of due process in the administration of criminal justice.
