AGBOR/Nigeria: The State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Marshal Umokoro has released 46 inmates, serving different jail terms in Agbor Correctional Centre.
The release, we gathered was part of efforts by the Federal Government to decongest the nation’s custodian/correctional centers, to avert possible spread of the coronalvirus tagged COVID-19 pandemic,
Releasing the inmates, Justice Umokoro explained the exercise was for serving inmates who according to him, had served within six or more years in the custody.
He said that the judges were to consider the conditional release of the following categories whom, he said, had minor offenses with or without option of fines, terminal diseases, health issues, aged inmates, who have attain 60 years and above, inmates who have less than three years term to serve and have served a substantial term and those who have no criminal charges against them among others.
The chief judge said that inmates who were charged with murder, kidnapping, robbery and other grievous offences were not to be released by the order.
The State Controller of Correctional Centres, Mr Friday Ovie, who spoke on behalf of controller General of Nigeria correctional centres, Alhaji Ja’ afaru Ahmed commended the state government for decongesting correctional centres in the state
He urged the released inmates to desist from activities that would bring them back to the correctional centre, just as he enjoined them to be of good behavior in the society.
Those released included 45 males and one female.
Some of the inmates who spoke to newsmen immediately after their release commended both the state and Federal government for their release.
The released persons who were filled with joy, advised the general public, especially the youths to stay out of crime so that, they said would not be caught up by the laws.
