Rivers CJ: Frees 14 Port Harcourt Inmates, Decongests Custodial Centre

• Rivers State Chief Judge Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi ordered the release of 14 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre.
• The release occurred during a "jail delivery exercise" that also marked the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year.
• The Chief Judge acted under the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act 2004 and the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015.
• Inmates released included those who had overstayed their potential sentences and those whose cases were stalled due to systemic failures.
• The Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service commended the judiciary for its efforts in decongesting the facility.

This significant action, part of a routine "jail delivery exercise," aims to address systemic issues within the correctional system and contribute to the decongestion of the facility.

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, recently ordered the release of fourteen inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre. This significant action, part of a routine "jail delivery exercise," aims to address systemic issues within the correctional system and contribute to the decongestion of the facility. The exercise took place on a Tuesday and coincided with the official commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year for the Rivers State Judiciary.

Chief Judge Chibuzor-Amadi explicitly stated that his actions were grounded in specific legal provisions, namely Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision and Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004, alongside Section 341 of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law Number 7 of 2015. These statutes empower the judiciary to intervene in cases where individuals have been held beyond legal limits or where their detention is no longer justifiable. The Chief Judge emphasized that this exercise serves to rectify injustices and alleviate overcrowding at the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre.

The categories of inmates selected for release included those who had already spent more time in custody than they would have if they had been convicted for the alleged offenses. Additionally, individuals whose trials had stalled for extended periods, not due to their own actions but owing to inefficiencies of security agencies or even the judicial system itself, were also granted freedom. This encompasses situations where case files were not transmitted to the Ministry of Justice for vetting and legal advice, or where files could not be located by law enforcement or the Ministry. This targeted approach highlights the Chief Judge's commitment to the Nigeria jail delivery exercise and its objectives.

Following the release, Chief Judge Chibuzor-Amadi issued important directives to both the correctional facility staff and the newly freed individuals. He cautioned officials at the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre against divulging confidential information, particularly regarding those slated for release, to other inmates. This measure is intended to mitigate potential tensions and maintain order within the facility during such exercises.

Addressing the fourteen released inmates, the Rivers CJ urged them to embrace a new path in society, warning that any return to criminal activity could result in permanent loss of freedom. He also drew attention to the current political climate, advising them against being exploited by politicians to instigate unrest, referencing past instances where youths became casualties of political violence. Richard Moses-Williams, the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Rivers State, lauded the Rivers State Judiciary and Chief Judge Chibuzor-Amadi for this initiative, recognizing its vital role in the ongoing Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre decongestion efforts.

Lawyers and compliance officers representing clients in pre-trial detention in Rivers State should note the Chief Judge's active use of statutory powers under the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act and the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law. This signals an ongoing judicial commitment to decongesting correctional facilities and provides a potential avenue for clients who have overstayed or whose cases are stalled due to systemic delays.

Source: Reporting based on original coverage from Punch Newspapers.