In a move aimed at decongesting correctional facilities in Rivers State, 21 inmates awaiting trial have been granted freedom from the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre.
The release, carried out on Thursday, was authorized by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, during an official inspection visit to the facility.
The intervention comes amid growing concerns over the severe overcrowding at the Port Harcourt correctional facility, which was originally designed to accommodate 1,500 inmates, but currently holds more than 2,500, creating difficult and often inhumane living conditions for detainees.
Justice Amadi explained that the release followed a thorough case-by-case review, particularly focusing on individuals who had been in detention for extended periods without meaningful legal progress. He emphasized that only inmates whose case files were missing or had stalled indefinitely due to administrative lapses were considered eligible for discharge.
“Inmates who still have active cases in court were not released,” the Chief Judge clarified. “This exercise is not arbitrary it is a lawful intervention guided by both federal and state legal frameworks.”
The Chief Judge cited legal provisions such as the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Special Provisions Act and the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, both of which empower judicial authorities to intervene in situations where citizens are being unlawfully detained without trial.
Among the released were two individuals who had spent nearly a decade in prison without formal trial, and who are now reportedly suffering from mental health challenges due to prolonged incarceration under poor conditions.
Justice Amadi expressed deep concern over such cases, noting that long-term detention without prosecution is a violation of human rights and undermines the integrity of the justice system. He warned that such practices not only harm the individuals involved but also erode public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary.
“Keeping citizens in custody indefinitely, especially when no concrete case has been made against them, does nothing to advance justice. On the contrary, it causes lasting psychological damage and may create long-term social problems,” he said.
The Chief Judge further called on the Nigeria Police Force and other investigative agencies to improve the quality and timeliness of their investigations. He urged them to ensure that cases are properly investigated before suspects are charged to court, to avoid the growing backlog of inmates awaiting trial.
This latest judicial intervention highlights the ongoing crisis of pre-trial detention in Nigeria, where thousands remain behind bars without formal charges, legal representation, or trial dates. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations have consistently urged both federal and state governments to reform the criminal justice system and protect the rights of citizens.
Justice Amadi reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding justice, fairness, and human dignity, promising that periodic jail visits would continue as a means of promoting accountability and transparency in the correctional system.
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