Delta Chief Judge Orders Release of Five Inmates After Statewide Custodial Review

Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Diai, has ordered the release of five awaiting-trial inmates following her third-quarter inspection of custodial centres across the state. The decision, announced on Wednesday at the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre, came after legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) found the detainees had no case to answer.

The freed inmates are Sunday Okoh and Sunday Emmanuel, both 41 and from Otulu; Uche Nduka, 38; Bala Bongah, 23; and Orji Chinedu Martins, 45. Their release followed a comprehensive review exercise that began on November 3 at the Warri Correctional Centre, during which 1,190 warrants were assessed across facilities in Warri, Sapele, Kwale, Agbor and Ogwashi-Uku.

Justice Diai noted that the review did not result in releases at the earlier centres, where more than 800 warrants were examined collectively. It was at Ogwashi-Uku—where 382 warrants were reviewed—that the DPP determined five cases lacked sufficient grounds for prosecution. She praised judicial officers, the DPP’s office and custodial centre administrators for supporting the process, stressing that the exercise is designed to uphold justice rather than effect mass releases.

One of the beneficiaries, Sunday Okoh, said he had been in custody since August 4 on allegations of conspiracy and promoting inter-communal violence, which he maintained he did not commit. He thanked the Chief Judge for restoring his freedom and giving him “a second chance.”