The Acting Chief Judge (CJ) of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, has released three awaiting trial inmates from Federal Correctional Centre, Kabba.

Majebi also ordered the transfer of Peter Onsachi, who was arrested in Okene for “reasonable suspicion” of culpable homicide, causing miscarriage, impersonation and public nuisance, to Okene High Court for trial.

Among those released unconditionally were Mustapha Ibrahim (charged with conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating and intimidation, and had spent four months in custody), while Obeh Ozovehe (arrested for culpable homicide) was released based on the justice ministry’s advice conveyed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Idris Mohammed, arrested for armed robbery, was also granted unconditional release for lack of evidence to prosecute him in the law court.

The Acting CJ, however, charged the released inmates to go home and exhibit good behaviour in their various communities.

He assured the remaining inmates with cases at various stages of trial that, soon, their cases would be reviewed and “those who should not be there would be released.”

Advising magistrates to ensure that they have the knowledge of cases they handled before the visit, Majebi also warned the officials of correctional centres in Kogi against keeping suspects without proper authority to avoid legal action.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi for his care and support for the judiciary in the state.

The officer in charge of the correctional centre, Shuaibu Ishaku, commended the CJ and judicial officers in Kabba for their efforts to decongest the custodial centre.

He disclosed that 200-capacity Kabba Correctional Centre accommodated 274 inmates due to flooding that ravaged Koton-Karfe prison, noting that 65 inmates were convicted, while 209 were awaiting trial in various courts.