The chief judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, has set fee an 80-year-old man, Ime Udoh and his son, James who were charged with disobeying a court’s order.
Udo, who, according to reports, could barely walk as of the time of release, was one of the 23 inmates freed from Ikot Abasi, Eket and Ikot Ekpene correctional centres.
They were all on the awaiting trial list from one up to five years.
Out of the 23 freed inmates, three were from Ikot Abasi Correctional Centre, nine from Eket Correctional Centre and 11 from Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre, who had been awaiting trial for between one and five years.
Before granting them pardon, the judge went through their case files 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.
However, the judge set free some on compassionate grounds and others for lack of case file.
One John Akpan freed from Ikot Abasi Correctional Centre was accused by his uncle of stealing a bunch of plantain from his father’s land (John father’s land), which, he (John) claimed, his uncle forcefully hijacked from him after the death of his father (John’s father).
Akpan spent over one year in prison while awaiting trial.
Also, pardoned was one Mmeyene Edet, 33, whom his biological father caused to be committed to prison for being disobedient and living a wayward life.
After his release, Edet said he thought being stubborn and wayward was the best way until he was sent to the correctional centre.
He advised youths to be focused and listen to their parents.
Also released was a truck driver and a minister with Living Faith Church, Ubong Patrick Ntia, who was given a job to convey household equipment to Abuja and part paid N170, 000 out of N220, 000.
His truck was said to have broken down on the way; hence he moved the items into another vehicle
However, the owner of the goods arrested him and made him to refund the N170, 000 he collected as part payment for the job.
He did, but was still remanded in a correctional centre from 2021 till when he regained freedom.
