Asaba – There was Jubilation in the Warri Custodial Centre, popularly called Okere Prison, as Chief Judge of Delta State, Honorable Justice Tessy Diai released four inmates on the second day of jail delivery​ exercise.

The lucky inmates, Tejiri Akpoyibo (25) charged for attempted murder; Anigoro Uduefe, Stanley Akporode and Kupa Tuphe charged for unlawful secrete society stated that they were innocent.

Ordering their release, the Chief Judge stated that trying Tejiri Akpoyibo who appeared mentally unstable was counterproductive, disclosing that the three others were freed on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to the effect that the trio had no case to answer.

Narrating his ordeal, Anigoro Uduefe who could not contain his joy for breathing air of freedom for the first time in few months, said that he was a member of the Sapele vigilante group and was going to see his wife at Udu which was engulfed in crisis, when the anti-kidnap group at Udu saw him, arrested, and slammed him with unlawful society charge.

He said he was innocent and happy because today was his son’s first birthday even as he thanked God for unveiling the truth.​

Justice Diai commended the performance of the DPP and her team, the Chief Registrar, judges and chairmen of branches of Nigerian Bar Association, Delta State present, noting, however, that most of the problem experienced was on the issue of non-production of inmates.

According to her, the shortcoming had resulted in an unexpectedly large number awaiting trial in the Warri Custodial Center.

The Chief Judge who reviewed 639 warrants expressed dismay over the irregularity of prison officers in producing inmates to courts in Ughelli axis, stressing that taking inmates once a week from a center of over 300, was unacceptable.

“I am really distressed about the number of people going to Ughelli, distressed not just because of the number, but I just learnt that inmates are taken to that place once a week.

“I am not happy, I am not impressed. Something must have to be done; so the number of times inmates are taken to those courts must increase, “she stated.

She advised the prison authority​ to put up a proposal in order to address the abnormality.

In a related development, about four inmates at the Sapele Correctional Centre were freed as two teenagers at the Remand Home in Sapele were granted bail, when the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Theresa Diai paid a working visit to both iinstitutions

At the correctional centre, 212 cases were looked into and at the end of the day, four inmates were set free.

They include Oghenevwegba Moses,​ Onoriode Ibru, and Adams Junior Ufuoma.​

Speaking with one of the freed inmates, Onoriode Ibru, he said it was the death of a visitor who visited him and drank Sniper at his place that brought him to the correctional centre.

At the Remand Home, 10 cases of children within the ages of 14 and 17 years were treated.

Two of the children were granted bail at the end of the day. Their cases are to continue at Agbor and Asaba.

The children granted bail were Chiemere Nneje and Israel Libor who hails from Okwe and Ibusa respectively.

The Chief Judge noted that after children are brought for trial and remanded, there is hardly any follow up, making the children to remain at the remand home for months.

Justice Diai admonished the freed inmates to be of good conduct as they go back to the society. She equally promised to take another look at cases that could not be concluded.