The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Theresa Diai, has granted freedom to a 54-year-old inmate, Mr. David Urumebo, at the Warri Custodial Centre on compassionate grounds due to health challenges, as part of the ongoing first quarter prison visit for 2026.
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‎Urumebo regained his freedom after the review of cases involving 325 awaiting-trial inmates at the Warri Custodial Centre.
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‎During the exercise, the Chief Judge also discharged and acquitted six inmates: Cletus Edewor Nwoba Maduabuchi, Otutu Kelechi, Brunu Brizebe, Ebimobowei Akpoegberibo, and Mienbi Abai, following recommendations from the presiding judge of the High Court in Effurun that they had already been discharged and acquitted.
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‎Justice Diai and her team later proceeded to the Sapele Custodial Centre, where a total of 155 warrants were reviewed. However, no inmate was released during the visit. She also visited the Sapele Remand Home where 8 inmates awaiting trial were reviewed.
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‎The Chief Judge, who led the visitation, was accompanied by judges, magistrates, the Chief Registrar, the Director of Public Prosecutions, law officers from the Ministry of Justice, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association, among others.
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‎Speaking during the exercise, Justice Diai explained that the visit formed part of the judiciary’s routine oversight aimed at reviewing the cases of inmates awaiting trial and ensuring that justice is properly served.
According to her, the exercise is intended to ensure that no individual is unjustly detained in any custodial centre across the state beyond the lawful period or without proper charges.
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‎“The exercise is not aimed at mass release of inmates but at ensuring fairness, legality in detention, and speedy trials. We do not want a situation where individuals are detained without charges or held longer than necessary. Once a matter is already before the court, the Chief Judge has limited powers except to guide trial judges or magistrates,” she said.
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‎Justice Diai expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the exercise and commended judges handling the cases, the Deputy Controllers of Corrections at the Warri and Sapele Custodial Centres, as well as the Department of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders for their dedication and diligence.
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‎She reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding justice and disclosed that the visitation would continue at the Agbor, Kwale, and Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centres as part of efforts to conclude the first-quarter prison visits for 2026.
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‎The Chief Judge also urged the Deputy Controllers of Corrections and judicial officers to take advantage of the Virtual Court Hearing System being installed by the Delta State Ministry of Justice to facilitate speedy trial delivery.
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‎In their separate welcome addresses, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in Warri, Mr. Okemeomia E. Richard, and his counterpart at the Sapele Custodial Centre, Mr. Ugo Okpokenibarapagha, expressed appreciation to the state judiciary and the Ministry of Justice for their continuous efforts toward reducing overcrowding in the custodial facilities.
While acknowledging the strong collaboration between the correctional centres, the Ministry of Justice, and the judiciary, they also highlighted some challenges facing the facilities, including inadequate resources and manpower shortages.
‎Reported by Odafe Isharo
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