In a bid to decongest correctional facilities and ensure speedy justice, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, has granted freedom to five awaiting trial inmates and approved bail for fourteen others at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
The landmark jail delivery exercise, conducted on Wednesday, is part of ongoing judicial reforms aimed at addressing prolonged detentions caused by case delays and the inability of prosecutors to present witnesses.
Justice Abai, while presiding over the exercise, lamented the plight of some inmates who had spent over six years in detention without trial. She noted that their prolonged incarceration was due to the accusers’ failure to provide evidence or witnesses in court. Some of the released inmates were also granted freedom on health grounds after a careful review of their cases.
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To address the challenge of delayed trials, the Chief Judge issued a directive mandating chief magistrates in Ikwuano and Umuahia South Magisterial Districts to hold weekly court sittings at the correctional center. According to her, this initiative will help reduce the burden on correctional officers responsible for transporting inmates to court and ensure faster judicial processes.
She further urged magistrates to remain diligent in their duties and prevent unnecessary delays that could keep inmates in prolonged detention. While encouraging the freed individuals to reintegrate positively into society, she warned that future offenders may not benefit from such judicial leniency.
Reacting to the exercise, the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Umuahia Branch, Uche Igwe, commended Justice Abai for her intervention, describing it as a crucial step toward upholding justice and preventing innocent individuals from suffering due to judicial inefficiencies.
This latest initiative reaffirms the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that correctional facilities serve their true purpose of reformation and rehabilitation, rather than being a place for unjustified incarceration.
