Anambra CJ Frees More Custodial Inmates As He Continues Jail Delivery Exercise
A twenty-nine-year-old man, Chinaemerem Ejimoleaka, has been freed at the Medium Security Custodial Centre Nnewi, as Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, continues jail delivery drill.
Mr Ejimoleaka, who informed the court that he hails from Ezinifite, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, was in detention for nearly three years over cases of burglary and stealing of motorcycle before he was convicted and given two-year sentence on one count charge.
Delivering judgement after taking submissions from officials of the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Awka, and a Social Welfare Officer at the facility, Justice Anyachebelu cautioned the beneficiary to be of good behavior henceforth.
Others, including twenty-six-year-old Okechukwu Nchekwube; accused of rape, thirty-seven-year-old Ugonna Nwawulu; accused of conspiracy and burglary, and thirty-one-year-old Uzochukwu Olisa; accused of receipt of stolen properties, were granted bail and their cases ordered to continue at the regular court.
However, forty-three-year-old Ejike Ayika, who allegedly murdered a woman at Okija for reportedly fetching firewood at a shrine, and fifty-three-year-old Chukwuzuberu Onunkwo, who allegedly murdered his mother and wife, were denied bail and their cases also ordered to continue at the regular court.
It was gathered that some of the inmates had spent between five to almost ten years in detention while their cases are progressing at the regular court.
Meanwhile, DPP officials informed the court that COVID-19 and insecurity contributed in elongating the trials, after which Justice Anyachebelu reviewed some adjournments for speedy and convenience of trial.
Addressing journalists after court proceedings that lasted for six hours, Justice Anyachebelu maintained that the annual exercise for every Chief Judge, though requires enormous resources, helps in decongesting custodial centres.
On his part, Assistant Comptroller of Corrections at the facility, Barrister Raymond Okonkwo, who said that while in detention, the inmates were exposed to various skills acquisition training that will enable them have better life, called for support in sustaining the training, even as he thanked Governor Chukwuma Soludo for sending a team and making promises to the centre.
In upholding respect and dignity of human persons during court proceedings, Justice Anyachebelu ordered that inmates standing trial be moved out of sunlight; on noticing that the sunlight was becoming scorching.
