By Agbaragu Timothy
Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Diai has set free Eight Inmates from the Agbor Custodial Centre, Agbor in the Ika South Local Government Area.
Five Defendants charged for possession of Firearms and Single Barrel were among the eight inmates that were freed by Justice Diai.
The freed accused persons, four in their twenties and one teenager arraigned before Magistrate Court 1 Agbor on September 14, 2022 for possession of firearm, were set free based on the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) to the effect that they were innocent of the offence preferred against.
They narrated the circumstances that brought them to the custody, saying that they were all neighbours at Alihame, Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Relating their sad experience to the Newsmen they said they were sitting at their compound on one fateful day when the Police raided the area and took all of them to Police Station.
They continued that even when the Police searched their homes and found nothing incriminating they were still charged with an offence they knew nothing about.
They thanked God, the Chief Judge and DPP for exonerating them.
Justice Diai who reviewed 240 warrants, equally discharged three others based on DPP advice, even as she enjoined magistrates to accelerate trial of defendants granted bail, but could not find surety to guarantee them.
Earlier the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Agbor Custodial Centre, Mr. Donatus Ezugwu, appreciated the Chief Judge for the priority given to custody cases which has resulted to quick dispensation of justice.
While expressing gratitude to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for the quick intervention in rebuilding the parameter wall of the Centre that collapsed sometime due to torrential down pour, Mr. Ezugwu appealed to the Chief Judge to assist in providing more vehicles to enable officers convey inmates to courts as at when due.
