Delta Chief Judge Frees Five Awaiting-Trial Inmates After Reviewing 1,190 Warrants

The Chief Judge of Delta State, Hon. Justice Theresa Diai, has ordered the release of five awaiting-trial inmates during her third-quarter visit to custodial centres across the state, an exercise aimed at ensuring fairness, legality of detention, and speedy trial.

Justice Diai, who spoke at the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, said the releases followed legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), confirming that the affected inmates had no case to answer.

Those freed include Sunday Okoh (41) and Sunday Emmanuel (41), both from Otulu; Uche Nduka (38); Bala Bongah (23); and Orji Chinedu Martins (45).

The Chief Judge explained that the review process, which began at the Warri Correctional Centre on November 3, 2025, involved a total assessment of 1,190 warrants across all centres visited.

At Warri Correctional Centre, 313 warrants were reviewed with no release granted. Similarly, the Sapele Custodial Centre saw 147 warrants reviewed, and the Sapele Remand Home had four awaiting-trial cases examined, with no inmates released.

The review continued at the Kwale Custodial Centre with 153 warrants, and at Agbor Custodial Centre where 191 warrants were assessed—also without releases.

However, at the final stop in Ogwashi-Uku, 382 warrants were reviewed, leading to the release of five inmates whose cases were deemed untenable by the DPP.

Justice Diai commended the judges, the DPP’s office, Deputy Controllers of the custodial centres in Warri, Sapele, Agbor, Kwale, and Ogwashi-Uku, as well as other stakeholders for their cooperation and diligence throughout the exercise.

She stressed that the goal of the quarterly review was not mass release but to uphold justice by ensuring that no individual remains in detention without lawful justification.

One of the freed inmates, Mr. Sunday Okoh, expressed gratitude to the Chief Judge and the DPP, stating he had been held since August 4, 2025, on allegations of conspiracy and promoting inter-communal violence—charges he insisted he never committed. He thanked Justice Diai for restoring his freedom and giving him a second chance.