By Sunny A. David, Onitsha
Twenty-four inmates have regained their freedom from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, after a jail delivery exercise revealed that the courts had already struck out their cases, but they remained in detention.
The inmates were released during the annual jail delivery exercise organised by the Anambra State Judiciary to review cases of persons awaiting trial and address prolonged detention
The exercise, presided over by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, who was represented by the Administrative Judge of the Onitsha Judicial Division, Justice Jude Nweze, saw 36 cases reviewed.
At the end of the exercise, 24 inmates were discharged and granted unconditional freedom, while three others were granted bail and are expected to regain their freedom after fulfilling the bail conditions. The remaining nine inmates were ordered to remain in custody as their cases continue before the courts.
Speaking during the exercise, Justice Anyachebelu disclosed that the 24 inmates had remained behind bars because the authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service were not aware that the courts handling their cases had already struck them out.
He explained that their continued detention was discovered during a physical visit to the custodial centre, describing the development as an indication of the importance of regular jail delivery exercises in identifying inmates who may have been overlooked within the justice system.
The Chief Judge urged magistrates to regularly monitor criminal cases pending before their courts and ensure that production warrants were prepared and signed to enable defendants to appear in court as required.
He emphasised that proper monitoring and effective communication between the judiciary and correctional authorities were necessary to prevent individuals from remaining in detention after their cases had been concluded.
Also speaking, the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Anambra State Command, Ezinne Onuoha, welcomed the exercise, noting that it would help reduce overcrowding at the custodial facility.
She revealed that the Onitsha custodial centre, which was originally designed to accommodate 600 inmates, currently houses more than 739, highlighting the pressure on the state’s correctional facilities.
For the 24 inmates, the exercise marked an end to an unexpected period of incarceration, as they regained their freedom after remaining in custody despite the absence of pending cases against them.
The development has further highlighted the need for improved coordination between the judiciary and correctional authorities to safeguard the rights of detainees and prevent unnecessary detention.
