The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, has ordered the release of two awaiting-trial inmates as part of ongoing efforts to decongest custodial centres across the state.
The release followed a review of 22 inmates’ cases, during which Hassan Alfa and Umar Abubakar regained their freedom after their matters were concluded by the court.
Alfa had been standing trial on charges of criminal conspiracy and theft, while Abubakar faced allegations of criminal conspiracy and assault.
Their release followed judgments delivered in their cases by Magistrate Susan Adaji, with the approval of the Chief Judge.
The exercise, which took place on Thursday at the Kabba Medium Security Custodial Centre, formed part of a wider prison decongestion initiative in the state judiciary.
Speaking during the exercise, Justice Majebi expressed concern over delays in the prosecution of cases, attributing the slow pace of justice delivery to what he described as lack of commitment by some prosecutors.
He warned that unnecessary delays in criminal trials would no longer be tolerated, stressing that all stakeholders in the justice system must demonstrate diligence and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The Chief Judge also condemned the alleged practice of receiving cash payments for bail conditions in some courts, insisting that such transactions must be conducted strictly through approved banking channels.
He described the practice as unacceptable, adding that judicial officers must adhere strictly to established procedures in the administration of justice.
Justice Majebi further cautioned against the criminalisation of civil disputes, warning that matters of a civil nature should not be treated as criminal offences.
He also raised concern over the growing workload on some judges, noting that excessive caseloads could slow down the resolution of pending matters.
According to him, arrangements have been made to redistribute certain cases to other courts to improve efficiency and speed up justice delivery.
The Chief Judge urged magistrates to prepare adequately for future decongestion exercises by ensuring that records of pending cases are properly compiled and readily available for review.
He also reminded judicial officers of the need to sign court records and properly document adjournment dates at the end of proceedings to ensure accurate record-keeping.