In a landmark push for justice reform, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday flagged off the state’s jail delivery exercise with the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
Among those freed was 32-year-old Gospel Nwibari, who had spent 18 years in detention without trial after being arrested at the age of 14.
Nwibari’s release was one of the most poignant moments of the day, drawing tears and applause from officials and observers. His story, marked by a complete lack of legal representation or formal charges, highlighted the deep flaws in the system.
“Many of these inmates had no case files and no means to trace the charges against them. Continuing to detain them serves no justice purpose,” Justice Amadi said during the event.
Anchored on the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the exercise aims to decongest prisons and address systemic delays that leave thousands behind bars without trial.
Justice Amadi stated that while some of the inmates were accused of serious crimes, the absence of proper case documentation rendered their continued detention unlawful.
He added that all releases were based on recommendations by correctional authorities and verified by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The Controller of Corrections for Rivers State, Felix Madumere, warned about the critical overcrowding at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
“Built for 1,800 inmates, the centre is now holding over 2,500. We are approaching a crisis point,” Madumere cautioned.
Gospel’s brother, Paul Kinani, emotionally recounted how the family had given up hope of ever finding him alive.
“I thought he was gone forever. Getting that call from Haven360 Foundation felt like a miracle,” Kinani said, confirming that Gospel would receive immediate medical care for suspected mental health issues.
Barr. Cyrus Onu, President of Haven360 Foundation — the legal group that traced Gospel’s case in 2020 — said his release marked a turning point in the fight for humane justice.
“He was a child abandoned by the system. We must do better. We also helped free a mentally ill woman detained since 2022. These are the people justice forgot,” Onu stated.
Justice Amadi pledged the exercise would extend to other correctional centres across the state, with support from legal aid groups, FIDA, human rights organisations, and the Ministry of Justice.
“Society may not always be forgiving. But the law must remain just and humane,” he concluded.
