In a move aimed at tackling congestion in correctional facilities, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has announced plans to visit the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Prison as part of a jail delivery exercise.
The visit is part of ongoing judicial efforts to decongest custodial centres across the state, especially by addressing cases of inmates who have been awaiting trial for extended periods.
Justice Chibuzor has also approved the deployment of magistrates to the Degema and Ahoada Custodial Centres. Starting today and running through Wednesday, the magistrates are expected to sit in these centres to review cases and determine those eligible for bail, release, or expedited trial.
Sources within the judiciary revealed that this exercise is not only routine but urgently needed, as Port Harcourt Maximum Security Prison and many custodial centres in Rivers State are operating above capacity.
This latest initiative reflects the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rights of inmates and improving access to justice.
