The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, has freed an inmate, Kadiri Mohammed, 20, in the Ubiaja custodial centre in the Central District of the state.

Mohammed, an awaiting trial inmate charged with kidnapping, had been in detention since December 22, 2023.

Reprieve came his way on Wednesday as Justice Okungbowa was following up an advice from the Edo State Department of Public Prosecutions, which declared that the inmate had no case to answer.

 The chief Judge had on Tuesday freed four others in Oko and Old Benin custodial centres due to their detention without tracing their files.

According to Justice Okungbowa, the visit to the centres is part of efforts to decongest them.

The constitutional mandate ensures that criminal matters are speedily dealt with and that congestion of criminal cases in courts are drastically reduced.

 Earlier, the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre Ubiaja, O.J. Osemwegie, commended the Judge of Ubiaja High Court, Justice Esohe Bazuaye, for her assistance in assigning counsels to inmates for swift dispensation of justice.

He also appreciated the lawyers in Esan, especially those representing inmates, for offering free services.

The chief judge, however, decried the challenges of his office and promised that he would continue to lobby relevant authorities to redouble efforts in addressing them.

He said on his part, those challenges within his purview would be addressed promptly whenever they arose.

(NAN)