Chief Judge pardons 80-year-old man, 11 other inmates in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge, Justice Ekaette Obot, on Thursday freed 12 inmates, including an 80-year-old man in Ikot Abasi and Eket correctional centres on awaiting trial list.

Out of the 12 freed inmates, three were from Ikot Abasi correctional centre, while nine were from Eket correctional centre and had been awaiting trial for between one to five years.

The Chief Judge, before granting the inmates pardon, went through all the case files both in Ikot Abasi and Eket during an inspection of the facilities and said their period of stay in the centres without trial was enough punishment for the minor offences they were accused of and ordered that they be released unconditionally.

Obot also released some on compassionate grounds and others on the want of prosecution.

One John Akpan in Ikot Abasi correctional centre, who was accused of stealing a bunch of plantain from his uncle’s plantation and had been in custody for over 12 months, was pardoned by the Chief Judge and was asked to be of good behaviour.

The chief judge also pardoned an 80-year-old man Ime Udoh, in Eket correctional centre who could barely walk and his son James Ime, who was charged with disobeying a court order.