The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has released 123 inmates during her second-quarter 2025 inspection of custodial centres in the state.
Among those freed was an 18-year-old girl with a mental health condition. The three-day tour covered Medium Security Custodial Centres in Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo.
Justice Obot emphasized the importance of decongesting the facilities and reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in protecting citizens’ rights.
“This exercise aligns with the constitutional mandate of the judiciary to ensure that no person is unjustly detained without due process,” she said.
Out of the 123 inmates discharged, 4 were from Ikot Abasi, 17 from Eket, 29 from Ikot Ekpene, and 73 from Uyo. Sixty-two of the total were released on medical grounds, with health issues ranging from anaemia and scabies to tuberculosis. The Chief Judge ordered that the dormitory housing ill inmates should be disinfected and kept empty for the time being to prevent the spread of infections.
Justice Obot noted that many of the inmates were being held for minor infractions and had already overstayed what would have been their lawful sentences if convicted. She released several individuals due to reasons such as poor health, trumped-up charges, missing case files, and lack of diligent prosecution.
One of the notable cases was that of a mentally challenged young woman reportedly eating foam and other inedible objects. She was discharged with instructions that she be transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Eket for evaluation and care.
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Another case involved Etieno Okon, who had been in detention since age 15 on a cultism allegation. Now 20, he was released alongside his father, having spent five years without trial.
In her address to the released inmates, Justice Obot urged them to turn a new leaf and avoid actions that could return them to prison. She expressed concern over the high number of individuals in custody without trial, some of whom had stayed longer than the sentence their alleged crimes would carry. She called on prosecutors to uphold justice and respect the rights of the accused.
Justice Obot commended judges, magistrates, court officials, and the Controller of Correctional Centre in Akwa Ibom for their commitment throughout the exercise. She donated N300,000 to assist with the transportation of the released inmates back to their homes.
Responding to her visit, the Controller of the Akwa Ibom Command, Frank Okonkwo, thanked the Chief Judge for her intervention. He mentioned key challenges faced by the centres, including dilapidated infrastructure and lack of vehicles to transport inmates to court.
He appealed to the Chief Judge to help push pending requests to Governor Umo Eno for operational vehicles, repairs, and more beddings, especially in view of the cold weather.