Delta Chief Judge Orders Release of Seven Awaiting Trial Inmates

The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai, has ordered the release of seven awaiting trial inmates during her first-quarter visits to custodial centers across the state. The inmates, all male, were freed from the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre based on legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr. Anthony Ogheneovo Orhorhorho, who determined that they had no case to answer.

Justice Diai, while addressing stakeholders at the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre, emphasized the importance of ensuring that individuals who have no legal grounds for detention are not unjustly held. The release was part of a broader exercise that began on March 10, 2025, at the Warri Correctional Centre, where 350 warrants were reviewed, leading to the release of one inmate. In Sapele, 138 warrants were examined with no releases, while at the Sapele Remand Home, 10 cases were reviewed without any inmates regaining freedom.

At the Kwale facility, 181 warrants were assessed, and one inmate was freed after being incarcerated for arson and kidnapping. In Agbor, 135 cases were reviewed, but no inmates were released. The exercise concluded at Ogwashi-Uku, where 428 warrants were examined, resulting in the release of five inmates. In total, 1,228 inmate warrants were reviewed across Delta State.

Justice Diai commended the diligence of the DPP and his team in ensuring fair and efficient justice delivery. She expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the process, noting that their efforts contributed to a more transparent judicial system.

One of the freed inmates, Chukwuemeka Ugwu, stated that he had been wrongly accused of robbery and kidnapping. The released individuals expressed their appreciation to the Chief Judge for granting them freedom, offering prayers for her continued service to humanity.