The Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu has
discharged three inmates from Nnewi Prisons and granted ten others
bail.
She performed the exercise when she embarked on her first visit to the
Prison on jail delivery exercise.
The inmates discharged and acquitted by the Chief Judge are Uche
Mmadu, Monday Nwaigbo and Uchenna Igwe.
Uche Mmadu was charged for armed robbery but the complainants
abandoned the case beyond two years without prosecuting him as
prescribed by the administration of Criminal Justice Law 2010.
Based on this circumstances, Justice Onwuamaegbu released him and
ordered the complainants, Blessing Uche and Chinaza Uche to pay twenty
thousand naira compensation to the defendant as stipulated by section
390 of the law.
The Chief Judge also dismissed a case of malicious damage filed
against Monday Nwaigbo and discharged him based on the fact that he
has stayed behind bars beyond two years he supposed to be in prison
for the offence he committed if he was sentenced, while Uchenna Igwe,
charged for burglary, entry and stealing was discharged by the Chief
Judge on the basis that the complainant failed to file information
against the defendant after nearly four years for the reason that he
has forgiven him and there are no witnesses.
The inmates released on bail by Justice Onwuamaegbu are Ifeanyi
Okwuma, Nzube Okafor, Emeka Esengha, Sopuluchukwu Mbadinuju, Onyebuchi Nwosu, Chisom Nwachukwu,Ebuka Ilegbenu, Sunday Samuel, Onyinye Ikueze and Ndubumma Anowai.
Speaking to the ABS, Justice Onwuamaegbu explained that the essence of
her visit to Nnewi Prisons was to deal with matters where the inmates
have not had the opportunity of going to regular court during the time
of their confignment, stressing that in no distant time, detention of
inmates beyond the period of imprisonment will be a thing of the past.
On his part, the Comptroller of Prisons, Anambra State, Mr. Emmanuel
Nwakaeze thanked Justice Onwuamaegbu for the intervention, as it has
helped to decongest the prisons.
He further stated that inmates are being taught skills that will make
them self reliant when discharged.
