Among those freed was an 18-year-old girl with a mental health condition. The three-day tour covered Medium Security Custodial Centres in Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo.
Justice Obot emphasized the importance of decongesting the facilities and reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in protecting citizens’ rights.
“This exercise aligns with the constitutional mandate of the judiciary to ensure that no person is unjustly detained without due process,” she said.
Out of the 123 inmates discharged, 4 were from Ikot Abasi, 17 from Eket, 29 from Ikot Ekpene, and 73 from Uyo. Sixty-two of the total were released on medical grounds, with health issues ranging from anaemia and scabies to tuberculosis. The Chief Judge ordered that the dormitory housing ill inmates should be disinfected and kept empty for the time being to prevent the spread of infections.
