A non-governmental organization known as Legal Care Advocacy Foundation has dragged the Rivers State government, the Commissioner of Police in the state, and the Deputy Comptroller, Maximum Security Custodian Centre Port Harcourt over the continued incarnation of more than a hundred inmates.
The NGO is in court to demand the release of these inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional centers because some have spent more than ten years without trial, arraignment, and/or DPP advice.
When the matter was mentioned, Justice Harriba Dagogo-Jack after listening to the applicant’s lawyer, ordered that a hearing notice be served on the three respondents.
Justice Dagogo-Jack however adjourned the case to the 14th of October 2022 for a hearing of the matter.
The lawyer to the NGO, Wisdom Chude shortly after the court proceedings explained to correspondent that the condition of the inmates will be described as horrible, some of them have been there since 2010, no information have been proffer against them in any court, they are just there on remand notice from magistrate court.
He said the application is brought to secure their freedom pending when the information will be proffer against them or properly arraigned them in competent court.
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On her part, a member of the board of trustees of Legal Care Advocacy Foundation, Jane James further said no information has been filled against over 100 of the inmates, no pleas taken because no legal advised, if there is no information since 2010 they should be released or arraigned properly in the competent court.
Recall that a state High Court had ordered for the unconditional release of one hundred and fifty inmates from the maximum Port Harcourt Correctional center after spending more than eight to nine years without having their day in court since they were remanded.
Justice G. O. Ollor who delivered the judgment after a lawyer and his organization known as ‘’Access To Freedom International’ instituted a fundamental human rights case against the Commissioner of Police, Attorney General, Comptroller of Prisons Rivers State command, and Chief registrar of Rivers State Judiciary.
