Four Prison inmates serving various jail terms have been discharged and acquitted, while eight others were granted bail by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, as she takes her 2019 jail delivery service to Ekwulobia Prison, Aguata Local Government area.
Justice Onwuamaegbu was accompanied to the Prison by two other Judges as well as the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of Special Duties at the Anambra state High Court, Awka, Chinelo Peters.
Among those whose cases were discharged and acquitted was a forty-four year David Ajaka of Ikwo Ebonyi State, who was accused of killing his wife, late Mrs. Ugochukwu Ajaka at Ogbunka, Orumba North Local Government Area.
Ikechukwu Okoli who was charged with armed robbery in 2015 at Ufuma was also discharged, as well as Barigboma Bob and Thompson Obani from Bayelsa State.
Some of the inmates granted bail were, Francis Amechi, Okeke Chinonso and Okeke Godwin, charged with armed robbery, Olisa Chukwudubem, charged with armed robbery and murder, including Uche Okeke, Odiri Nwafor, among others.
In the case of Mr. David Ajaka, Justice Onwuamaegbu argued that the defendant has been in custody since October 2015 and has not been charged to court or any proceeding taken place on his matter.
The Chief Judge noted that the State has not shown any willingness to prosecute him now or in the future, and as such, he cannot continue to be incarcerated and as a result of that, she discharged and acquitted him.
Granting bail to Mr. Olisa Chukwudubem who was charged with armed robbery and murder, Justice Onwuamaegbu said that the information before the court showed that the defendant has been in custody since the nineteenth day of February 2018 without trial, referencing Section-one-three-four, Sub section seven, of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State 2010, granted him bail to the tune of one hundred thousand naira.
At the end of the day’s proceedings, Justice Onwuamaegbu thanked all who made the exercise successful and appealed to all the Judicial Stakeholders to be highly responsive and dedicated to their various portfolios.
She asserted that those who will be behind bars are those who deserved it and not innocent souls.
The State Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Emmanuel Nwakeze and members of the Nigeria Red Cross Society were equally present during the exercise.
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