No fewer than 77 inmates awaiting trial at the Sapele Medium Security Custodial Centre regained their freedom on Tuesday , even as the Delta State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Marshal Umukoro decried unwillingness of complainants to come to court and testify after making report to the police.
Justice Umukoro who restated that money has been voted as part of State Judiciary budget to compensate witnesses who incurred expenses, posited that reluctance in giving evidence serves as a clog in the wheel of justice administration and decongestion.
While expressing grave concern over the negative trend, he stated: ” One thing that is very worrisome is the unpreparedness of complainants to come to to give evidence. It is one thing for you to report a case, and the moment you set the Law in motion, persons are arrested, case files are compiled and sent to DPP; only to come here and be told that witnesses are not ready to come to court and testify. ”
The Chief Judge who also released nine inmates and granted one bail at the Sapele Remand Home and Detention Centre encouraged witnesses to give evidence in court, as according to him, it would send a signal to other criminals that there was no profit in criminality.
“Whether they are discharged or convicted is immaterial but, for the fact that they have been tried it will serve as deterrent to other criminally minded ones in the society, ” he asserted.
Justice Umukoro who had in the previous week released 149 inmates from the Warri Custodial Centre and granted bail to six commended officers of the Sapele Custodial Centre, DPP and her team, especially state Counsel of Sapele Zone and the Nigerian Bar Association for their diligence and efficiency that facilitated successful visit.
A side attraction was one of the pardoned inmates, Bright Odis, who had been in custody since 2018 on allegation of Armed Robbery entertained the audience with Christian rendition.
Mr. Odis showing remorse, narrated his pitiable experience for the period of incarceration, saying that while at Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre relatives and and friends used to visit him but, when he was transferred to Sapele everybody except God abandoned him.
He thanked God for using the Chief Judge to regain his freedom, vowing never to return to crime even as the Chief Judge commissioned him as Ambassador of repentance.
In a welcome address, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Sapele Custodial Centre, Nwanze Eugene appealed to the Chief Judge to use his good office to influence the State government to refurbish and restructure facilities at the Centre destroyed by irate inmates of the Centre due to rampage which took place on 27th and 28th of April, 2020.