Rivers Chief Judge paroles 55 prison inmates

 

Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Laminkanra Iyaye has freed 55 prison inmates who are awaiting trial and have stayed over three years without being arraigned by a competent court of jurisdiction.

Justice Iyaye discharged the inmates when she visited the prisons on an assignment to carry-out jail delivery in the Port Harcourt Prisons.
She said her action was in line with the Administration of Justice Prisons Release Act

Addressing the discharged inmates, the Chief Judge advised them to be of good conduct as they regained their freedom.
She charged the discharged inmates to be good citizens of the state and desist from committing crime.
“There is no excuse that there is no work. Many of you can farm. And if it is to get menial jobs, you can also do that instead of indulging in crime.

“You may not be lucky next time. Endeavour to be good citizens of the state. Go and look for work to do. Don’t join other people to be committing crime all over the state. Crime does not pay. Many of you have been here for many years.

“Go and sin no more”, the CJ said.
The discharged inmates were selected from those awaiting trial in Magistrate courts across the state including, Kpor in Tai local government, Bonny, Bori, Oyigbo, Nchia in Eleme, N.P.A, Rumuodomaya, Elimgbu, Taaba, Elelenwo, Onne, Umuagbai in Etche, Abuloma, and the Rivers state Juvenile Court in Port Harcourt.
The Chief Judge was accompanied to the prisons by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, Justice Dappa Addo, Magistrates and the Chief Registrar of the State High Court.
Representatives of the Department of State Security, Commissioner of Police, Director of Public Prosecution, Federation of Women Lawyers and other Judiciary officers were present at the event.