The Benue Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Aondove Karkhan, on Friday discharged three detainees awaiting trial and granted 19 others bail at the Maximum Security Custodian Centre, Makurdi.
Karkhan gave the order while on an inspection visit with members of the State Criminal Justice Committee to the correctional centre.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CJ who is also the chairman of the committee has led the committee members to the centre to review cases of 496 detainees awaiting trial.
Karkhan, however, expressed displeasure on antics that would result in the unnecessary delay of cases by the prosecution.
The CJ explained that the action was inimical to the state’s justice delivery process, adding that it was worrisome that scores of suspects were kept in detention for many years without progressive trial.
He said it was unconstitutional to keep accused persons for that long no matter the offences, adding that it was wrong for courts to wait for legal advice in criminal matters for up to two years.
He, therefore, advised the police prosecutors to work together with the Ministry of Justice officials to ensure that legal advice on criminal suits was issued on time to ensure speedy trial.
He then admonished the freed inmates to desist from crime and live a reformed life to secure their future.
The Comptroller of the Correctional Centre Benue Command, Mrs Amaka Okorie expressed satisfaction on the intervention of the committee, adding that, the action was exemplary.
“The visit has helped in a way to decongest the centre a little bit. We are also happy that this committee granted relieve to those who deserve it’’, Okorie said.