The Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ekaette Fabian Obot has released inmates from Ikot Abasi, Eket and Ikot Ekpene Correction Centers to take the advantage of their freedom and live a new life that could make them useful to themselves and the society,
Justice Obot gave the advice during a routine visit to the Correctional Centers in which 37 inmates regained freedom.
A breakdown of the number show that two (2) persons were released from Ikot Abasi prison; eight persons (8) released from Eket prison, while twenty-seven (27) persons were released from Ikot Ekpene prison.
The two persons released from Ikot Abasi prison are Nse Aniekan John and Ndifreke Lawrence Kofi who were convicted on account of rape.
They were given probation release after serving a greater term of their conviction. They were directed to report back to prison officials every month in which time they must have shown sign of good behavior.
Among the 8 persons released from Eket Correction Center is mother of 4 children, Mrs. Ekaette Samuel Ibok, who was allegedly involved in trafficking one of her children. She was arrested since 2022 and kept behind bars without trial.
The widow who lost her husband and without means of livelihood, had given out one of her children as house help.
The brother in-laws used police to arrest her and dump her in prison, leaving the children vulnerable.
Justice Obot while ordering her release, advised her “not to give out her children again for whatever reason but go home and take good care of them “.
Also freed was 19-year-old Bassey Bassey Okon who was accused of being involved in armed robbery. He was said to have been detained since June 2021 and was never charged to court.
Equally released were 23-year-old Ekemini Happiness Okon, and 22-year-old Nelson Ime Sampson.
After spending more than 4 years and 9 months in custody without trial on a trumped-up charge of being involved in armed robbery.
However, it was gathered that they were arrested during the ENDSARS protest.
Freed on compassionate ground are Victor Bassey Nelson and Unwana Udo Ben. Victor was said to have been involved in fight over family property and his brother through the police arrested and dumped him in prison while Unwana was arrested by vigilante group in the neighboring village and dumped in the prison.
On his part, Ransom Akpan Monday was arrested by the police and dumped in the prison over 4 years without trial.
At Ikot Ekpene Correction Center, the compassionate judge gave a breath of fresh air and freedom to 37 inmates.
While 8 were released on health ground, 19 were freed either as a result of trumped-up charges or failure to prosecute them several years after being arrested and dumped in the facility.
Those released on health ground include Samuel King Fred, Godwin Obi Ofem, Ubong Ben Moses, Imoh Monday Akpan, Peter Jeremiah Udo, Emmanuel John Ekpenyong, Nyakno Ezekiel Okon, Aniebiet Ernest Johnson
However, a particular case that shocked the CJ, was that of 18-year-old Charity Augustine Marcus whose arrest was caused by her uncle refusing to sleep with him after she lost her father.
She was arrested on allegation of stealing garri and soup to eat when she was hungry.
Another pathetic case was that of Etieno Nsima Umoh who was accused of harvesting cassava from his father’s farm. He was arrested and dumped in prison for over 2 years without trial.
For released Uduakobobg Francis, he was arrested over family property and dumped in prison since 2018 without prosecution
Another pathetic case was that of John Emmanuel Effiong who was accused of stealing a motorcycle.
However, the person who accused him and was to serve as prosecuting witness in court, ran away from court room when he sighted a police officer who handled his case of being involved in robbery. Effiong was then dumped in prison for over 5 years.
As observed by the State Chief Judge during the visit, there is lack of facilities to make the prison truly a correction center.
They include lack of accommodation to take care of the inmates. Ikot Ekpene Correction Center was built to accommodate 400 inmates but the facility is currently housing 752 inmates with lack of water, as noted by the Deputy Comptroller of the Correctional Center, CCC Boniface Momoh.
Ikot Abasi and Eket Correctional Centers equally have infrastructure decay and over-crowding of inmates as noted by ACC Matthew Onobume and ACC Osueme Abhulimen respectively.
During the visit, the Chief Judge advocated vocational training school within the correctional facilities. This, she said, will provide access to formal education the inmates and as well truly correct and change their attitude when they are freed.
The CJ also observed the attitude of State Counsels especially in the area of lackadaisical attitude of handling some of the cases, as well as doing funny things to detain suspects or accused persons without trial.
Okon Bassey
