By Kamsi Anayo
Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, has freed 10 inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre, Anambra state.
Among those released were nine men and a woman.
Some of the freed included Ifeanyi Egwuatu and Ebuka Molokwu, who are mentally sick.
Others are Johnson Ojukwu Okolo, a native of Anaku in Ayamelum LGA of the state; Okechukwu Okeke, a native of Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of the state, Uwadiegwu Edeh from Enugu state and Francis Oluchukwu from Imo state.
Also freed were Arinze Nwoke from Ohofia in Ebonyi state; as well as one Mmesoma Okafor, a house wife, who was detained since February 2022.
The Chief Judge said that the freed were those whose detention were manifestly unlawful and those detained for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which the person detained could have served had he been convicted of the offense of which he was detained; as well as old and very sick inmates.
According to him, the exercise was part of his constitutional duties, which is a fast way of decongesting correctional facilities.
He urged all that benefited from the gesture not to go back to their evil ways.
The Deputy Comptroller of Onitsha Correctional Centre, Mr Val Nwosu said that the Chief Judge action would help decongest the prison, and bring sanity.
He urged the judiciary to ensure that there is quick dispensation of justice, especially as it concerns awaiting trial inmates, so that the faculty will not be unnecessarily congested.