COVID-19: Bayelsa CJ pardons eight inmates

Bayelsa State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, has freed eight inmates in the Nigerian Correctional Services custodial facility in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State as part of effort to contain spread of COVID-19.

While five of the inmates who are awaiting trial on minor cases were released unconditionally, three were granted bail due to poor health conditions.

Justice Abiri, who carried out jail delivery exercise to the correctional services custodial facility, also directed judges in different courts in the state to give accelerated hearing to cases pending in their courts.

She asked the presiding judges in all the courts in the state to resume sitting immediately to give expeditious hearing to the case with capital punishment whose offenders are remanded in Correctional Service detention facilities.