By Agbaragu Timothy
Paul Dumbi was among five inmates who the Delta State Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Tessy Diai discharged from the Kwale Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, yesterday.
The 40 years old man had been in custody since 2020 on allegation of armed robbery and arson even without the fact that there had been no information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) or any witness deposition against him.
Discharging the Defendant, Justice Diai stated that she saw no justification for the inmate’s continued stay in custody when DPP has averred that all efforts to get witnesses to depose to affidavit to enable them render legal opinion has been futile.
Mr. Paul Dumbi expressed joy that his innocence has been proved even as he thanked God and the Chief Judge for facilitating his release.
The Chief Judge also released Aziakpono Igirigi, Joel Emmanuel (23), Ejita Osunde (23) and Destiny Goodluck (20) who despite that their cases had been struck out by various magistrate courts since 2020 were still held in custody for no a operant reasons.
Justice Diai who reviewed 304 warrants of inmates awaiting trial at the Kwale Custodial Center in continuation of prison tour across the state queried the rationale for keeping defendants in custody whose cases had been struck out by court of competent jurisdiction.
She enjoined magistrates to hands off any matter which does not fall within their geographical jurisdiction except, they have letter of approval from the Chief Registrar to assume jurisdiction, even as they were reminded to be conscious of time limit in handling custody matters.
So far, the Chief Judge has released 15 inmates awaiting trial at Warri, Sapele, Kwale custodial centres and the Sapele Remand Home since October 18 when she embarked on visit to custodial centres across the state.
