By kelechi ugo
No fewer than 16 inmates of the Owerri Prisons, have been released via jail delivery by the Imo State Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze .
The inmates who regained their freedom include, Otito Opara, John Asuatalam, Emeka Nwosu, Chukwuebuka Ojigbani, Onyebuchi Iroanya, Solomon Azunna Nwokpara, Everistus Ezekwere, Bartholomew Odu Chinemerem, Osinachi Iche, Chinezie Okpara, Chinwoke Monday. Others are Kelechi Egeonu, Ugochukwu Okezuo, Hypolitus Iwuala, Nzubechi Emmanuel and Obi Kingsely.
It would be recalled that the Owerri prisons which was built to accommodate not less than 548 prisoners is now housing about 1823 inmates.
Most of the inmates released have stayed 2-4years in the prisons custody without trial while one of then who could not gain freedom, Emeka Princewill Ozobi was reported to have attempted to commit suicide on Wednesday night after a court sitting in Orsu struck his case out and the prison authority claimed they had no authority to release him.
The accused person Ozobi was accused of stealing by his family members which carries one year imprisonment if convicted but he had stayed in the custody since March, 2009 without trial.
Delivering Judgement, Benjamin Njemanze enjoined the detainee Princewill to refrain from causing harm to himself that he will be released as soon as the prisons authority receive court order.
The Chief Judge revealed his commitment to ensure that the prison is decongested,
Speaking with Journalists, the Nigerian Prison PRO ASP Madugba James who spoke on behalf of the Controller Nigeria prisons service, Imo State command, Mr Ifeanyi I. Amaliri pointed out that Imo Chief Judge has played his constitutional role by adopting a routine visitation to the Nigeria Prisons yard in the state in order to enhance jail delivery. The controller charged the released inmates to go home and sin no more noting that the Nigeria Prisons service reserves right to keep accused persons in prison custody till court orders for their release.
Adding his voice, the judiciary PRO Mr Nnanabu Ernest Nnanabu commended the Imo State Chief Judge for his commitment towards ensuring that Owerri Prisons Yard is decongested.
