Kelvin Peter – Warri
The Delta State Government has set free 25 inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kwale Custodian Centre in a bid to decongest prisons as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID -19.
Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, said that, “the action of the state government was in response to a directive from the federal government to the state governor, Attorney General and the Chief Judge.
“The instruction was that, those convicts with less than three years to serve prison term be released.
“Those convicted for serious crimes like kidnapping, murder and armed robbery were not included among those to be set free.
READ : NUJ condemns flogging of Silverbird staff by a soldier in Rivers state
“Those released should comply with the state government’s sit at home order until it is lifted”.
In his part, the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Delta State Ovie Friday Ezesobor said, “we thanked the federal, state governments and the State Chief Judge for this releases.
“It was a great relief to us in this critical moment that COVID-19 was posing a great threat to existence of humanity”.
A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC Rep) of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Barr Nelson Enumah also said, “the federal and state governments should provide test kits to test inmates and new suspects in correctional centres across the country”.
More stories: COVID -19 : Northern states governors resolve to ban Almajiri system
