Delta Justice Commissioner frowns at illegal detention of suspects

Jethro Ibileke/Asaba

The Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, has assured Deltans that the Ministry is poised to fast track the administration of justice and deliver on its core mandate.

Mrakpor made this known Monday while receiving the Controller of Prisons, Delta State Command, Mr. Anthony Ojih, who was in his Chambers on a Courtesy visit.

He expressed worry over illegal detention of suspects in prison custody and the large numbers of young persons languishing in prisons, either awaiting trials or convicted.

According to the Attorney-General, the Ministry was been reorganized to tackle the issue of congestion in prison as according to him, proactive measures have been taken to reduce the time frame to turn in a legal opinion.

He averred that the measure was conceived to fast track the administration of Justice in the State and to ensure that no body was victimized and remanded in prison custody unjustly without trial, adding that delayed legal opinion was one of the factors responsible for prison congestions.

While pointing out that though Prison was on the exclusive legislative list, Mrakpor who noted that most of the inmates in the various prison formations across the state are Deltans, canvassed for collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to address the various challenges faced by the Prisons Service.

He expressed his Ministry’s he readiness to synergize with the Nigerian Prisons, assured the Controller that their various request is been processed expeditiously.

Earlier in his speech, the State Controller of Prisons, Mr. Anthony Ojih, said the visit was in continuation of his familiarization meeting with core stakeholders since August, 2015 when he was redeployed to the State.

Ojih solicited for the assistance of the State Government to help in addressing the issues of congestion and provision of operational vehicles to convey inmates to court for trials. He decried the high number of inmates in the Warri Medium Prison built to accommodate maximum of 206 inmates but has been over stretched to accommodate over 1280 inmates with 149 on the death row.