The Chief Judge of Rivers state, Justice SIMEON CHIBUZOR AMADI, on Thursday granted pardon to 53 inmates standing trial for various offences at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre.
The exercise is part of the activities outlined to kick off the 2023/2024 legal year in the state.
The move is also part of measures taken to decongest the Maximum Correctional Centre in Port Harcourt.
Justice AMADI said the exercise is in compliance with the provision of section 34 Sub-section 1 of the Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State and the special provision act of the Laws of the Federation which empowers the Chief Judge to visit the correctional centre to ascertain the number of inmates in custody, their duration of stay, and determine those deserving of a pardon.
Justice AMADI urged the police to be thorough in their investigations before charging a suspect to court.
The Justice advised the released inmates to be of good conduct.
In his remarks, the Comptroller of the State Correctional Service, FELIX LAWRENCE commended the criminal justice system Administration in the State for effectively decongesting the Port-Harcourt Maximum correctional service, adding that at his assumption of office in June, he met over 4,000 inmates, but the number has dropped by a thousand.
The inmates granted pardon are those who have been in the correction centre for five and nine years respectively and standing trial as awaiting trial inmates who had no information filed against them by the Department of Public Prosecution in the High Court.