Ten inmates regained their freedom as the Chief Judge of Delta State, Honourable Justice Tessy Diai ended a two day jail delivery tour to the Warri Custodial Centre, popularly known as ” Okere prison” News Desk Paper report.
Justice Diai ordered release of some of the inmates following legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) disclosing that the defendants have no case to answer. She also released two who were unlawfully held in custody having previously been discharged by courts of competent jurisdiction.
Among those released were Ifeacho Blessing (42), Michael Diata, Stanley Lucky(37), Tega Okoloba (21) and Omovua Moses(28). Others were Godspower Charity (20), Noah Tamarauketemene (23), Tuwo Two Nadua (27), Godwin Omotefe (44) and Boloemi Inuisi (23)
Narrating the circumstances that led to their incarceration at Warri prison, Ifeacho Blessing and Michael Diata said that someone asked them to contract a driver for him for an assignment which they did. But after some time the person came to them complaining that he could not found the driver, demanding them to produce the driver. When they told him that they do not have knowledge of whereabouts of the driver, the police arrested and slammed both of them with allegation of conspiracy and murder.
In her opening remarks, Justice Diai who reviewed 609 list of awaiting trial inmates noted that when few or no inmates were released it means that the courts were doing well.
“You know yesterday when I was talking I said, well if we do not release people in prison it means we are doing well. Doing well in the sense that everybody who is here, is here lawfully, and when that has been ascertained it is the court in which the case is pending that will now take over jurisdiction in respect of such matters,” she explained. On the purpose of the jail delivery exercise, Justice Diai reiterated, “Last year when I was here I made some remarks of the purpose of the visit, and it has not changed. It is to review the cases of those awaiting trial, and to ensure that they are here legitimately. And we are also to see whether there are those persons who have stayed more than the period if they should have been convicted. “
