Cross River Chief Judge Free 34 Prison Inmates

No fewer than 15 murder suspects, eight armed robbery? suspects and six persons awaiting trial for stealing? were among those who regained their freedom when the Chief Judge of Cross River State Justice Dorothy Iyamba, visited the Afokang Federal Prisons in Calabar over the weekend.

Also set free are those awaiting trial for kidnapping, child trafficking and conspiring to cause communal conflict. Justice Iyamba who reviewed the cases of over 200 of the 650 awaiting trial inmates had to set 35 of them free following procedural defects in their trial, shoddy police investigation, poor health of inmates, missing case files and detention for prolonged periods without trial.

Among those set free was 41 year old lady Felicia Alfa who allegedly killed her husband by bursting his testicles in a fight in the night when the man demanded for sex from her. She was said to have vaginal infection which was bringing out discharge which also emited offensive odour. For fear of passing the infection to other inmates the prison authorities presented her for release.

One James Efiok who was said to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl was also released after spending 10 months in detention without charges brought against him. One Edet Bassey? who is awaiting trial for armed robbery was also released following the absence of a case file documenting his charges.