Several inmates held at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Rivers State for periods ranging from six to fourteen years without prosecution or trace of their case files have regained their freedom.
The release followed a goal delivery exercise carried out on Thursday by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, who urged the freed individuals not to return to crime.
Justice Chibuzor-Amadi expressed concern over the growing number of inmates languishing in correctional centres due to systemic lapses. He blamed both the Police and the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for the situation, citing their failure to properly process and follow up cases.
He also called for greater collaboration between the judiciary, security agencies, and relevant authorities to address overcrowding in the state’s correctional centres.
Meanwhile, the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Rivers State, Felix Madumere, lauded the Chief Judge’s initiative. He described the exercise as a welcome effort towards reducing the burden on correctional facilities and delivering justice to those unjustly detained.
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