53 INMATES OF ABAKALIKI CUSTODIAL CENTRE REGAIN FREEDOM
REPORTER: AMECHI ODO
Ebonyi State Government has secured the freedom of 53 inmates of Medium Security Custodial Centre Abakaliki.
Their freedom was facilitated by the Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, who also empowered them economically through her Pet Project, Better Health for Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons, (BERWO).
The Medium Security Custodial Center Abakaliki was built to accommodate about 380 inmates but it now houses over 1,400 inmates.
The Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Nwifuru, explained that her attention was drawn to the condition of the inmates when she visited the Custodial Centre some time ago, which she reported to the State Governor who promised to secure their freedom.
She noted that those freed were among many languishing in jail for many years for their inability to meet their bail conditions or pay fine as imposed by the court.
The Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Odo, described the intervention of the Wife of the Governor as remarkable as it would help to decongest the Center.
He noted that the state government was pushing for a reformed Criminal Justice System to further address the challenges facing inmates.
The Officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre Abakaliki, Mr. Benedict Oyoko, expressed appreciation to the wife of the Governor for coming to settle the bail conditions of the freed inmates.
One of them said he was dumped in the Custodial Center for over two years now after being framed for defilement and thanked the government for granting him freedom.
Among those freed were two women.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
