In what has been described as a case of justice delayed but ultimately not denied, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, officially launched the state’s jail delivery initiative by freeing 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre — including a man who had been held for 18 years without trial.
One of the most striking cases was that of Gospel Nwibari, who was reportedly arrested in 2007 at just 14 years old and had remained in custody ever since, without legal representation or formal prosecution.
His case drew particular attention at the launch of the exercise, which is guided by the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and designed to reduce prison overcrowding and address longstanding delays within the judicial system.
Justice Amadi revealed that many of the inmates freed had no formal case files or clearly defined charges. He emphasized that despite the gravity of some alleged offences, the principles of due process must prevail.
“Many of these inmates had no case files and no means to trace the charges against them. Continuing to detain them serves no justice purpose,” the chief judge said.
He further clarified that the releases were not arbitrary, noting they were based on case reviews by correctional authorities and subject to confirmation by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Justice Amadi also took the opportunity to advise the freed individuals, encouraging them to embrace reform and resist any return to criminal behavior. He acknowledged the social challenges they might face upon release.
“Society may not always be forgiving. But the law must remain just and humane,” he said.
Felix Madumere, Controller of Corrections for Rivers State, also addressed the gathering. He expressed concern over the growing pressure on prison infrastructure, pointing out that the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre — built for 1,800 inmates — is currently housing over 2,500, posing serious operational and human rights risks.
“If the state fails to act, we may be forced to halt inmate admissions temporarily to prevent a system breakdown,” Madumere warned.
The day’s most emotional moment came with the release of Gospel Nwibari. His brother, Paul Kinani, recounted years of searching, believing him lost forever.
“I thought he was gone forever. We looked for him everywhere. Getting that call from Haven360 Foundation felt like a miracle,” he said, fighting back tears. Kinani noted that Gospel would be receiving urgent medical care due to signs of untreated mental health conditions.
Barrister Cyrus Onu, President of Haven360 Foundation — the legal advocacy group that discovered Gospel’s case in 2020 — called the release a landmark victory in the quest for criminal justice reform.
“He was arrested as a teenager and left to rot in the system. We also secured the release of a mentally ill woman from Etche who had been detained since 2022. These are the people justice forgot,” Onu stated.
He assured that the foundation would continue to support released inmates, especially those battling psychological trauma or homelessness.
Justice Amadi reaffirmed the judiciary’s dedication to safeguarding the rights of detainees and addressing flaws in the justice process.
“This is just the beginning. The exercise will continue in other correctional facilities across the state,” he said.
The event drew attendees from the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Correctional Service, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), legal aid bodies, and human rights organizations — all unified in their mission to restore justice, dignity, and hope to those overlooked by the legal system.