Prison Congestion: 2,413 Inmates Awaiting Trial In Akwa Ibom – Controller

The Controller, Nigeria Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom Command, Julius Ezugwu complains about prison congestion, says about 2,413 out of 2,854 inmates were awaiting trials in the four correctional facilities across the state.

Ezugwu made this disclosure at a one-day capacity-building workshop for the Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, ACJMC, on Friday in Uyo.

The Controller who summed up the total number of inmates in the state’s facilities to 2, 854, added that the custodial centres in the state have been overcrowded.

He appealed for the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ACJL, in the state to help decongest custodial centres.

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According to him, the large number of inmates awaiting trial was responsible for the congestion of the centres, stressing that the facilities were to be a place to reform convicts and not take care of awaiting trial persons.

“We have a total of 2, 854 inmates in the four facilities of the command, that is, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, and Ikot Abasi, respectively.

“Out of the total number, we have about 441 convicts and 2, 413 inmates awaiting trials.

“I want to say that the correctional service has been doing its part creditably and I am happy that this workshop on ACJL will lighten the weight of the correctional service,” Ezugwu said.