PUNCH Metro gathered that the fortunate inmates Festus Okpro (35), Friday Michael (32), Precious Obinna (20) and Okeghi John (60) were charged with offences ranging from unlawful society, robbery, attempted murder, murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.
The Chief Judge, who also granted bail to four other inmates stated that she discharged them based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) noting that they have no case to answer.
While granting bail to Okumo Emmanuel, Ujerekre Omokoro, Ebi Daniel and Onitsha Cornelius who were charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, Justice Diai stated that the prosecuting counsel A. O. Suoware said that the only charge against the defendants was illegal possession of firearms and that the witness who ought to testify in respect of other charges had declined and refused to come to court.
The Chief Judge pointed out that based on the submission of the counsel, the Director of the Public Defender in the Ministry of Justice Uyi Edomwonyi, Esq. applied for the bail of the four inmates under section 243 (1) ACJL 2022 on the ground that they had been in custody since 2019 without trial.
The Chief Judge, therefore, granted the bail application in the sum of N500,000 each with surety in like sum, adding that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction.
A 20-year-old female, Precious Obinna from Imo State, who was among the discharged inmates, narrated the circumstances that took her to prison custody explaining that she just visited her boyfriend at Abbi in Ndokwa West Local Government Area and while with him, the Police raided the area and arrested her and the boyfriend for the alleged murder of a young man whose corpse was found close to the house.
Miss Obinna shedding tears of joy, vehemently claimed innocence of the framed-up charge saying she has learned her lesson from that incident.
She thanked God, the Chief Judge and the DPP for thorough assessment and scrutiny of the case file and found out that she was innocent of the alleged crime.
The Chief Judge who reviewed 293 warrants of inmates at the custodial centre lauded the excellent performance of Judges, magistrates, DPP, the Police, the Chief Registrar and his team, particularly Hon. Justice F. O. Enenmo in charge of Kwale zone, for ensuring speedy dispensation of justice in his court, promising to introduce an award for deserving Judges.
