Justice Raymond Ozoemena, Chief Judge of Enugu State, has ordered the release and granted bail to 86 inmates at the Enugu Custodial Centre, including an 86-year-old man, citing health and humanitarian reasons. The announcement was made during the launch of the 2025 Jail Delivery exercise, which aims to protect the fundamental rights of persons awaiting trial.
Describing jail delivery as a “sacred judicial responsibility,” Justice Ozoemena emphasized that the process ensures that no inmate is unjustly detained due to delayed or stalled trials. He called it a statutory duty to uphold constitutional rights and maintain public confidence in the justice system.
The exercise included collaboration with the state Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Correctional Service, and other judicial stakeholders, supported financially by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. The Corrections Controller praised the initiative as a crucial step toward decongesting prisons and enhancing rehabilitation efforts.
Calls have been made to extend the jail delivery to other custodial centres in Nsukka and Oji River to further reduce overcrowding.
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