The Chief Judge of Delta state Hon. Justice Roseline Bozimo, during her inspection visit to Agbor prison recently said that the inspection exercise was a duty which she must perform. She disclosed that the exercise started since December 2009, when she inspected the Warri prison, where 22 inmates were released. According to her five inmates were released at Kwale prison 19 at Sapele prison and 3 released from the remand home also at Sapele prison.
Justice Bozimo, observed that the inmates in Agbor prisons were the most disciplined of all the prisons she visited during the exercise, saying that "it is not easy to control people who come from different backgrounds and people who have committed various degrees of crime, you are all supermen" she told men of the Nigerian prisons service Agbor.
During the inspection visit to Agbor prison, nine inmates; some of whom were not convicted and have been awaiting trial, were released because there was no evidence to prosecute them. Some those released were three relation who were held by the police as accomplices in a case of felony, robbery and possession of weapon
In a chat with Ika weekly, Oshilim Nduka, Ekene Isichei and Elvis Obafe; Said they were arrested by the police when they came to give their brother; Lucky Oshilim, food at the police station. Another inmate Festus Okoro who hails from Alisemie in Ika South local government Area of Delta state was released by the Chief Judge for lack of evidence against him.
On his part, Onyebuchi simeon, also an inmate granted pardon; was full of praise to God whom he said was the reason why he was released, He also thanked the chief judge of the state and the government at various levels for introducing such an exercise to bring freedom to the helpless masses.
Earlier in an address before the release, Mr. Chris Okoye; the Assistant controller of prisons (ACP) in charge of Agbor prison, said it has always been a great pleasure to both staff and inmates whenever the chief judge visits the prison, as her visits had always brought relief to deserving inmates and stated that the inmates were already in high spirits, with great expectations.
Mr. Okoye, also revealed that there are some inmates who have not been convicted but have been standing trial for the past seven years, adding that those years are long enough to finish their jail terms if they had been sentenced, this condition according to him is causing Psychological trauma in such inmates, stating that Justice delayed is justice denied. The ACP recounted that it was on record that the last visit of the chief Judge to the prison brought freedom to several inmate and joy to their families and loved ones, adding that he believed that the current visit would not be different.
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