The Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, has granted freedom to twelve inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre as part of his 2020 Jail Delivery exercise.
The inmates were charged with various offences including rape, conspiracy and arm robbery, stealing and burglary.
In his remarks, Justice Anyachebelu said that the exercise would have been held earlier but was forestalled by the COVID-19 pandemic as it was unsafe to visit the inmates then.
The Chief Judge who embarks on the exercise twice a year, said it is aimed at giving accelerated hearing to cases which have stayed longer than necessary.
Justice Anyachebelu in the course of the hearing, gave priority to health cases, Juvenile, women in detention, as Onitsha is the only Correctional Centre with females, as well as those who are sixty years and above.
The State Chief Judge also referred other cases to regular court for accelerated hearing and bail.
Commenting on the occasion, the Deputy Comptroller, Onitsha Correctional Services, Mr.Valentine Nwosu, represented by Sophia Ofili, pointed out that the exercise assist greatly in decongesting correction centres.
He further disclosed that the Onitsha Correctional Centre has nine hundred and sixty -eight inmates, and appealed to government to assist the Centre with Vehicles to aid the inmates’ movements to courts where their cases are being tried and thanked the Chief Judge for the visit.
Justice Anyachebelu was accompanied on the visit by high court judges of Onitsha and Ogidi among others.
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