The Rivers State Judiciary has released 23 inmates in the first phase of its 2026 prison decongestion exercise as part of efforts to reduce congestion in custodial centres across the state.
The exercise, which was carried out on Wednesday, July 22, followed the directive of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, aimed at decongesting correctional facilities and ensuring that no inmate is held beyond the period permitted by law.
A statement issued by the Chief Registrar of the High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, said Chief Magistrates and Senior Magistrates visited the Port Harcourt, Ahoada and Degema Correctional Centres to review the cases of inmates eligible for release.
According to the statement, 23 inmates were released after the review, with 18 freed from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre and five from the Ahoada Correctional Centre, while no inmate was released from the Degema Correctional Centre.
The exercise was conducted by Chief Magistrates Menenen F. Poromon, Ilanye D. Brown, N. N. Nnee and Obiareri N. Anugbum, alongside Senior Magistrates Wobia C. Akanie, Harold B. Nwinee and ThankGod Ndukwu.
The Judiciary stated that the exercise forms part of its commitment to promoting access to justice, safeguarding the rights of detainees and supporting ongoing efforts to reduce congestion in correctional facilities through periodic case reviews and other justice sector interventions.
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