RIVERS TAKES ACTION TO FREE 22 PRISONERS AND DECONGEST JAILS.

Tunji Wusu –

The state government of Rivers State has released 22 prisoners and requested that they leave the institution immediately in an effort to relieve congestion in the overcrowded, dirty prisons in the state.

The 22 detainees at the Nigerian Correctional Facilities in Ahoada and Port Harcourt, whose penalties had been totally covered by the Rivers State Government, were instructed to return home and stop sinning.

It is important to remember that the 22 prisoners who were released had their cases decided and had the choice of fines under one million naira.

Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo said the release of the prisoners is a part of the State government’s efforts to decongest the correctional facilities while speaking at the exercise at the Port Harcourt Correctional Center.

The gift by the state government is part of a decision made at a conference between the Minister of Interior and governors of the states to decongest Nigerian correctional facilities, according to Oguguo, who presented Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, the state’s chief judge.

She cautioned the recipients to act as responsible members of society because, if they were to be caught in prison once more, they might not have the opportunity again.

Alex Oditah, the state comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Center, congratulated the Rivers State government and state judiciary for their ongoing efforts targeted at declogging the facilities in his message of goodwill.