The Rivers State Judiciary has released 23 inmates from correctional centres across the state as part of the first phase of its 2026 prison decongestion exercise.

The exercise, carried out on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, followed a directive by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, aimed at reducing congestion in custodial facilities and ensuring that inmates are not detained beyond the period permitted by law.

The exercise involved judicial officers visiting correctional centres in Port Harcourt, Ahoada and Degema to review the cases of inmates in custody and determine those who qualified for release.

In a statement, the Chief Registrar of the High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, said the exercise was designed to ensure that deserving persons were not kept in custody unnecessarily, particularly where continued detention was no longer justified under the law.

Following the review of cases, 23 inmates were released from two of the correctional centres visited.

The Port Harcourt Correctional Centre recorded the highest number of releases, with 18 inmates freed, while another five inmates were released from the Ahoada Correctional Centre.

No inmate was released from the Degema Correctional Centre after the review of cases at the facility.

Ihua-Maduenyi said the exercise was conducted by a team of judicial officers comprising Chief Magistrates Menenen F. Poromon, Ilanye D. Brown, N. N. Nnee and Obiareri N. Anugbum, as well as Senior Magistrates Wobia C. Akanie, Harold B. Nwinee and ThankGod Ndukwu.

The exercise forms part of the Rivers State Judiciary’s continuing intervention in the administration of criminal justice, particularly efforts to address overcrowding in correctional facilities and protect the rights of persons in custody.

The Judiciary said periodic reviews of inmates’ cases would remain an important component of its efforts to promote access to justice and ensure compliance with constitutional and legal safeguards surrounding detention.

The Chief Registrar said the Judiciary remained committed to protecting the rights of detainees and supporting measures to reduce congestion in correctional facilities across Rivers State.

The decongestion exercise is also expected to help judicial authorities identify cases requiring urgent attention and ensure that the continued detention of inmates is subject to appropriate legal and judicial scrutiny.

The release of the 23 inmates marks the first phase of the 2026 exercise, with the Rivers State Judiciary indicating that periodic reviews and other justice-sector interventions would continue as part of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice in the state.