ABUJA – Mrs Angela Mbah, the Federal Commissioner for Anambra State in the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), on Monday urged relevant authorities to urgently take the necessary steps to decongest the Onitsha Prison.
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Mbah, who made the call in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, spoke against the backdrop of an investigative visit she led to the prison, decrying its overcrowded condition.
According to her, the 326-capacity prison currently accommodates 814 inmates, including 768 males and 45 females.
Mbah said that from the 814 prison population, 718 were awaiting trial, including 696 males and 42 females.
She described a situation where prison inmates spent their productive years awaiting trial as unjust and unfair.
The commissioner said that the visit afforded her team the opportunity to examine various complaints and reports from the inmates and to assess the condition of the prison.
She added that the visit which coincided with jail delivery exercise by the Anambra Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, led to the release of 11 inmates.
Mbah said that her team was also able to identify some cases for the consideration of the state Chief Judge during his June jail delivery visit to the prison.
The commissioner commended the prison authority for keeping the environment clean and hygienic. (NAN)
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