By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Majebi, has sent a strong message against delays in the administration of justice by ordering the release of 10 awaiting-trial inmates and suspending a court registrar over a missing case file during a jail delivery exercise at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton-Karfe.
The twin actions, taken during the Chief Judge’s inspection of inmate records and pending criminal cases, underscored a renewed push by the Kogi Judiciary to tackle prolonged detention, enforce accountability within the justice system and restore public confidence in judicial processes.
Justice Majebi, who reviewed the cases of inmates held for extended periods without trial, said the judiciary would not tolerate situations in which citizens are left languishing in custody because of administrative lapses, weak investigations or avoidable delays in prosecution.
The Chief Judge ordered the immediate release of 10 inmates after finding that there was either insufficient evidence to sustain the charges against them or legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had recommended their discharge.
He stressed that the constitutional rights of citizens must be protected at all times and that no individual should remain behind bars indefinitely without a clear legal basis.
In a move that highlighted his determination to address systemic shortcomings within the justice sector, Justice Majebi also directed the suspension of a registrar attached to Chief Magistrate Court I, Lokoja, over the disappearance of a case file involving an accused person standing trial for alleged conspiracy and theft.
The Chief Judge ordered that the official remain suspended pending the recovery of the file and the conclusion of investigations into the circumstances surrounding its disappearance.
Legal observers at the exercise described the decision as a rare demonstration of judicial accountability and a warning that negligence within the justice system would no longer be overlooked.
Beyond the release of inmates, Justice Majebi announced measures aimed at accelerating criminal proceedings across the state. He warned magistrates against the routine granting of adjournments and directed that criminal cases should not be adjourned more than twice except in exceptional circumstances.
He also cautioned judicial personnel against demanding money from suspects before granting bail, describing such practices as unethical, unlawful and damaging to the credibility of the judiciary.
Addressing inmates at the custodial centre, the Chief Judge urged them to remain hopeful, assuring them that the courts were taking deliberate steps to ensure that justice is delivered promptly and fairly.
Among those released were Suleiman Shuaibu and Isah Abdullahi, who had spent several months in custody over allegations of criminal conspiracy and kidnapping before the court found insufficient evidence linking them to the offences.
Aliyu Umar and Muazu Usman also regained their freedom after legal advice from the DPP indicated that the evidence available could not sustain the charges against them.
In a humanitarian gesture, Justice Majebi approved the release of Musa Aliyu, popularly known as “Papa,” whose health condition had reportedly deteriorated significantly while in detention. The court ruled that he should be allowed access to urgent medical care.
Several other inmates, including Abdullahi Yahaya, Adamu Abdullahi, Muhammed Muhammed, Usman Muhammed and Zakari Suleiman, were discharged following prosecutorial recommendations that no prima facie case had been established against them.
To further ease delays in criminal proceedings, the Chief Judge directed the transfer of five inmates to other correctional facilities where their trials could be handled more efficiently.
The jail delivery exercise forms part of a broader judicial reform effort aimed at reducing congestion in correctional centres and ensuring that detention does not become a substitute for trial.
Officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed that the Koton-Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre, built to accommodate 320 inmates, currently houses 54 convicted inmates, 62 awaiting-trial detainees, six inmates on death row and one serving a life sentence.
For many of the beneficiaries, the exercise marked the end of months of uncertainty. For the judiciary, it signalled a renewed determination to confront institutional bottlenecks and uphold the principle that justice delayed should not become justice denied.