SOME INMATES OF ENUGU PRISONS REGAIN FREEDOM

Prison is one of the key sectors in the administration of justice. Due to several factors and clogs in the wheel of justice delivery, most prisons have become congested. In a bid to decongest the prisons, the Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice  Priscilla Emehelu has embarked on prison visitations by releasing inmates in deserving circumstances.

According to Justice Emehelu, because of the law backing the exercise in the 1999 constitution, she was expected to embark on the exercise at least once in a year. Earlier in an address of welcome, the Comptroller Prisons, Enugu State Command, Mrs. Ukwuorie Kalu commended the State Chief Judge for the jail delivery as conferred on her by law.

She noted that the exercise would go a long way in decongesting the prison which had an initial capacity of six hundred and thirty-eight persons but housed two thousand and thirty eight inmates. Mrs. Kalu advised the beneficiaries to be responsible citizens.

One of them, Mr. Anthony Boniface from Cross River State could not hide his joy as he applauded the Chief Judge and the State Government for the gesture. Representatives of some non-governmental organizations like Capio, CIDJAP, PRAWA as well as some human rights activists were present during the jail delivery session at the Enugu Prisons.

MAUREEN OTUKWU