THE Ebonyi Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo has released 27 inmates from Abakaliki prison during the state judiciary’s jail delivery exercise to decongest the prison.

Nwankwo disclosed after the exercise held at the prison’s premises on Tuesday that eight inmates were discharged, 16 granted bails with conditions while three inmates were granted bails on self-recognition.

He noted that the exercise would be conducted frequently to alleviate the plight of awaiting trial inmates and decongest the prison.

“I thank the prison authorities for providing the enabling environment for us to conduct the exercise and also all judges, magistrates and members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) present,’’ Nwankwo said.

Mr Israel Alobo, the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), commended the state judiciary for conducting the exercise, noting that it would assist in its prison decongestion objective.

“We are totally amenable to this exercise as neither the DPP nor the police are to blame for the delay in ensuring speedy trial of awaiting trial inmates.

“The delay is caused by non-submission of relevant case files to us on time, among other factors which I will not make public,” he said.

He explained that the public erroneously feel that the DPP was inactive, adding that inmates’ case files submitted to the courts, are not to be publicised.

“When the DPP submits 1, 500 out of 2,000 case files to the courts for instance, it shows that it is proactive and working-on the remaining case files.

Mrs Chigozie Nwele, a relative of one of the inmates released on bail; thanked the CJ for conducting the exercise and pledged to meet the bail conditions given to her relation. (NAN)

– Feb. 6, 2018 @ 16:55 GMT |