Abakaliki Correctional Centre congested, has 1,363 inmates — Controller

The Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service in Ebonyi State, Mr Anthony Chigbata, has expressed worry over the congestion of the facility in the state with 1,363 inmates.

Chigbata explained that the facility, meant for only 387 inmates, is now housing a total of 1,363 prisoners.

The Controller disclosed this to journalists following a jail delivery exercise by Ebonyi Chief Judge, Justice Elvis Ngene, at the centre on Thursday in Abakaliki.

He commended the jail delivery and noted that the exercise had done much good to their facility in order to decongest it.

“The exercise is helping us because of the good number of persons awaiting trial,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in a bid to decongest the Correctional Centre by the judiciary, 16 inmates with minor offences were released unconditionally during the jail delivery exercise.

During the exercise, Justice Ngene explained that out of 23 matters attended to, only two were discharged, 14 were released on bail and seven were further remanded.

He hailed the Correctional service officers for their good jobs and promised to continue the jail delivery exercise by December.

(NAN)

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