Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, has granted pardon to 181 inmates in various correctional centres in the state in a bid to decongest the facilities.
Justice Amadi was represented at the event by the deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation, Chief Magistrate Friday Poromon.
The 181 pardoned inmates were also discharged and acquitted of their offences.
Amadi, while speaking at the close of the two-day decongestion exercise at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, said the exercise was a prelude to the 2022/2023 state legal year ceremony.
The Chief Judge said, “On November 22, I will embark on another goal delivery exercise as activities put together to herald the 2022/2023 legal year in the state.”
While addressing the freed inmates, he said the society contributed more to the congestion of the correctional centres.
“Members of the society have also contributed largely to what we have here. It is sad.
Amadi advised the freed inmates to change their ways and desist from any acts that might cause them to return to the facility.
The state Comptroller of Corrections, Felix Lawrence, who spoke through the Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Magnus Uchegbu, thanked the chief judge for the exercise and advised the released inmates to be responsible and good citizens.
