*Delta State Chief Judge Rounds off Third Quarter Custodial Centres visit.*
By Shirley Binitie
The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai has completed the 3rd quarter Custodial Centres visit to Correctional Centres across the State. They are the Warri, Sapele, Kwale, Agbor, Ogwashi-uku Custodial Centres, and the Remand Home, Sapele, where a total of 1288 awaiting trial cases were treated by the State Chief Judge.
Consequently, Justice Diai reviewed 381 warrants at the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre,190 warrants at the Kwale Custodial Centre, 162 warrants at the Agbor Custodial Centre, 170warrants at the Sapele Custodial Centre, 6 warrants at the Remand Home, Sapele and 379warrants at the Warri Custodial Centre.
During the visit, 7 inmates were released on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. A. O. Orhorhoro for having no case to answer.
The released persons include Nafiu Shittu (30) in Warri Correctional Centre, Paterson Ugboma (66) in Kwale Correctional Centre and Onwusa Ifeanyi (24), Charles Chogizie(37), Emmanuel Kuffre(22), Lucky Ifie(25), Emeka Onwochie(31) in Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre.
In the same vein, the Chief Judge recommended another inmate (Onyebuchi Onyejebu, 49) for proper medical checkup and treatment at the general hospital as the wardens complained of him showing signs of deafness and weak limbs which had hindered the inmate’s mobility.
Justice Diai stressed that the purpose of the visits is to see that cases are going on “The purpose of the visit is not to determine or decide a case here. Once a matter is already in court, I have no business with that case. Any application in respect to that matter goes to that court.1am concerned with those who may be here without valid reason or those who have stayed longer than they should, even if they have been sentenced, that is why we review the warrants and of course, if there is anybody that is very ill, that staying here will not help his situation,then I can do something”.
According to the Chief Judge, “where nobody is released, it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong, it means that cases are going on as they should, the inmates are being taken to court”.
Paterson Ugboma(66), one of the freed inmates, said he was accused of conspiring with his nephew to commit fraud of which he is innocent. He thanked God for saving him and regaining his freedom.
The Chief Judge commended the Judges, the Magistrates and Director of Public Prosecution and his team for their prompt response in filing of cases and commencement of trial which has contributed to the drastic reduction of awaiting trial cases.
