IN a landmark move towards justice reform, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, yesterday, launched the state’s jail delivery exercise by ordering the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
Among them was Gospel Nwibari, a man who had been detained for 18 years without trial.
Nwibari was reportedly arrested in 2007 at the age of 14 and remained behind bars ever since — with no access to legal representation or formal charges.
His case drew particular attention during the exercise, which is guided by the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and is aimed at addressing prison overcrowding and systemic delays in the legal process.
Justice Amadi disclosed that many of the inmates had no case files or identifiable charges against them, including some accused of serious crimes like murder and armed robbery. However, he stressed that justice must be rooted in due process.
“Detaining individuals without proper documentation or legal grounds serves no purpose. Justice must be lawful, fair, and humane,” he stated.
All releases, he noted, were based on recommendations by correctional authorities and subject to verification by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
He also urged the released individuals to reform their lives, acknowledging the potential difficulties they may face reintegrating into communities still grappling with the effects of their alleged offences.
Felix Madumere, the Controller of Corrections in Rivers State, raised concerns about the strain on facilities. The Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, built to house 1,800 inmates, now holds over 2,500 — a situation he warned could force authorities to temporarily stop accepting new inmates.
The most emotional moment of the day was the release of Gospel Nwibari. His brother, Paul Kinani, shared how the family had lost hope of ever finding him after years of searching.
“We thought he was dead. Getting that call from Haven360 Foundation felt like a miracle,” he said tearfully, noting that Gospel would receive urgent medical attention for apparent mental health issues.
Barrister Cyrus Onu, president of Haven360 Foundation — the advocacy group that uncovered Gospel’s case in 2020 — described the release as a milestone in their mission to reform the justice system.
He also revealed that the foundation recently facilitated the release of another detainee, a mentally ill woman held since 2022 in Etche.
Onu pledged continued support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, especially those battling trauma and social reintegration challenges.
Justice Amadi reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the rights of detainees and eliminating the inefficiencies that plague the system.
“This is only the beginning. The exercise will extend to other correctional centres across the state,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), legal aid organisations, and human rights advocates — all united in their pursuit of justice, dignity, and reform for those forgotten by the system.