Rivers govt frees 230 inmates

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 30.11.2007

TWO hundred and thirty inmates of the 2,785 in the federal prisons in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have been set free by the Rivers State government as part of its plans to decongest prisons in the state.

Announcing this in Port Harcourt, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iche Ndu, explained that the action was in compliance with the provisions of Section 141 of the Criminal Justice System, Special Provisions Act of 1977.

According to him, some of those released had been held for alleged murder, robbery and other crimes, adding that most of them had overstayed the penalty for their offences.

He said some were granted freedom on health grounds. Justice Ndu warned the freed prisoners to steer clear of crime because if they were caught again, they would be severely dealt with.

The controller of the prisons, Mr. Benjamin Bonkugoko, at an earlier function, had disclosed that about 2,522 inmates of the prisons were awaiting trials.

He said about 237 inmates had been convicted and that about 114 of them had been condemned, out of which seven were from the state.