The Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu, has released seven inmates and granted bail to about seven others during the 2025 annual prison visit to the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Awka.
The prison visit, which involved hours of court proceedings within the facility, also saw Justice Anyachebelu order that the cases of inmates granted bail should continue at the regular courts.
During the exercise, the Chief Judge denied bail to a rape suspect, Chukwujioke Ezeibekwe from Ekwulobia. The suspect had told the court that he did not commit rape but claimed to have married his biological sister and has two children with her. The case was adjourned to January 20, 2026.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Justice Anyachebelu said the annual prison visit provides an avenue to review cases of inmates in custody with the aim of decongesting correctional facilities. He, however, expressed concern over the rising rate of crime in the state.
The Officer in Charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre Awka, Assistant Controller of Corrections Innocent Amaechi, said inmates at the facility are exposed to reformative and life-changing programmes aimed at making them responsible citizens. He added that regular visits of this nature would further assist in reducing congestion in correctional centres.
