•Justice Raymond Ozoemena
The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Hon. Justice Raymond Ozoemena, has granted bail and ordered the release of 86 inmates from the Enugu Custodial Centre during the flag-off of the 2025 Jail Delivery Exercise held in Enugu.
Among those freed was an 86-year-old man from Okpanku, Aninri Local Government Area, who regained his freedom on health and humanitarian grounds.
Speaking during the exercise, Justice Ozoemena described the jail delivery as a sacred judicial duty aimed at upholding the rule of law and protecting the fundamental rights of persons awaiting trial.
He explained that the exercise enables the judiciary to review the cases of inmates whose trials have been unduly delayed, ensuring that no one is unjustly deprived of liberty.
“This is a statutory duty imposed on the Chief Judge of every state to ensure that inmates in correctional centres are afforded the opportunity to have their cases reviewed where the wheel of justice has been slow. I consider this a sacred obligation to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen and to ensure that justice is both fair and timely,” Justice Ozoemena said.
The CJ commended his predecessors for sustaining the tradition of the jail delivery exercise, stressing that it remains a vital mechanism for maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
