*Expressed dismay over irregularity by prison officers in producing inmates to courts in Ughelli
Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai on Wednesday Free four inmates on the second day of jail delivery exercise at the Warri Custodial Centre, popularly called Okere Prison, Delta State
Ordering their release, the Chief Judge stated that trying Tejiri Akpoyibo who appeared mentally unstable was counter productive, disclosing that the three others were released on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to the effect that the trio had no case to answer.
The lucky inmates, Tejiri Akpoyibo (25) charged for attempted murder; Anigoro Uduefe, Stanley Akporode and Kupa Tuphe charged for unlawful secret
society stated that they were innocent.
Speaking to ACTUAL NEWS , Anigoro Uduefe 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 arrested and slammed him with unlawful secret society charge.
According to Anigoro Uduefe, he was innocent and happy especially as he was released on his son’s first birthday even as he thanked God for unveiling the truth.
Justice Diai commended the wonderful performance of the DPP and her team, the Chief Registrar, judges and chairmen of branches of Nigerian Bar Association, Delta State present, noting that she was impressed because most of the problem experienced was on the issue of non production of inmates which resulted to unexpected 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.
She advised the prison authority to put up a proposal in order to address the abnormality.
” I am not happy, I am not impressed. Something must be done; so the number of times inmates are taken to those courts must increase, ” she stated.
