In what can be described as a case of justice delayed but not denied, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, flagged off the state’s jail delivery exercise with the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre — among them, a man who had spent 18 years behind bars without trial.
The freed inmate, Gospel Nwibari, was reportedly arrested in 2007 at the age of 14 and had remained in detention ever since, with no formal trial or access to legal representation. His story stood out during the launch of the exercise, which was anchored on the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and aimed at decongesting prisons and correcting deep-rooted delays in the legal process.
Justice Amadi explained that many of the affected inmates had no case files or traceable charges. He noted that while some were accused of serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery, justice must still follow due process. “Many of these inmates had no case files and no means to trace the charges against them. Continuing to detain them serves no justice purpose,” the chief judge said.
He added that all releases were subject to verification by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) and were recommended by correctional authorities following detailed case reviews. Justice Amadi also used the opportunity to counsel the released inmates, urging them to turn a new leaf and avoid falling back into crime. He warned that the road ahead may not be easy, especially in communities still grieving from the alleged offences.
