Akwa Ibom Chief Judge Justice Fabian-Obot Orders Unconditional Release of 37 Inmates Citing Judicial Delays and Congestion

Justice Ekaete Fabian-Obot releases 37 inmates in Akwa Ibom, citing unconstitutional delays and lack of prosecution. Read the details of the prison inspection.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 9:47 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

A Virtual Intervention in the Custodial Crisis

In a significant move to address prison overpopulation and judicial stagnation, the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Fabian-Obot, has initiated the release of 37 inmates across several state facilities. Conducting the inspection virtually on Thursday, the Chief Judge reviewed case files from the Ikot Abasi, Eket, and Ikot-Ekpene custodial centers. This exercise is part of a broader routine inspection that began earlier this week and is scheduled to conclude at the Uyo custodial center next Tuesday. The Chief Judge emphasized that keeping suspects in custody for extended periods without trial is fundamentally unconstitutional and represents a failure of the prosecutorial process.

Health and Compassion as Grounds for Freedom

The breakdown of the releases reveals a targeted approach toward the most vulnerable segments of the inmate population. Of the 37 individuals freed, eight were granted liberty specifically on health grounds, while 29 were discharged based on a combination of compassionate reasons and a lack of evidence for continued prosecution. Specifically, two inmates were released from Ikot Abasi, eight from Eket, and 27 from the Ikot-Ekpene facility. Justice Fabian-Obot noted that many of the charges reviewed appeared to be fabricated or lacked the necessary legal follow-through, prompting her to order their unconditional release to prevent further miscarriages of justice.

The Case of Charity Augustine and Juvenile Justice

One of the most notable cases during the inspection involved 18-year-old Charity Augustine, who had been detained for over a year on charges of stealing garri. Considering the teenager's age and the relatively minor nature of the offense, Justice Fabian-Obot granted her freedom on compassionate grounds. However, the release came with a structured reintegration plan, as Augustine was placed on a six-month probation period under the supervision of a monitoring officer. This case highlighted a broader trend within the facilities where individuals were found awaiting trial for more than three years over minor infractions such as simple assault or the theft of farm produce.