Julius Ezugwu, the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Akwa Ibom Command, revealed that out of the 2,854 inmates in the four correctional facilities across the state, approximately 2,413 are awaiting trial.
Ezugwu shared this information during a one-day capacity-building workshop for the Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) held on Friday in Uyo.
He highlighted the issue of overcrowding in the custodial centers and called for the adoption of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in the state to alleviate the congestion.
The Controller emphasized that the primary purpose of custodial centers is to reform convicts and not to accommodate a large number of individuals awaiting trial. He stressed the importance of addressing this situation to ensure the effective functioning of the facilities.
“We have a total of 2, 854 inmates in the four facilities of the command, that is, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, and Ikot Abasi, respectively.
“Out of the total number, we have about 441 convicts and 2, 413 inmates awaiting trials.
“I want to say that the correctional service has been doing its part creditably and I am happy that this workshop on ACJL will lighten the weight of the correctional service,” Ezugwu said.
