By Enitan Abel Johngold Orheruata,MNIPR
The Honourable Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Tessy Diai, has concluded her second visit to Custodial centres across the state for the year 2026. During the visit, a total number of 1,177 warrants were reviewed and 9 detainees were released. Justice Diai reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to speedy justice and the protection of the rights of awaiting trial inmates.
The 2 weeks – long exercise, which covered the Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku, Warri, Sapele, Kwale Custodial Centres and Remand Home, Sapele , formed part of the Chief Judge’s constitutional oversight aimed at decongesting correctional facilities, monitoring criminal justice administration and ensuring that no inmate is unjustly kept in custody.
According to the statistics released at the conclusion of the exercise, 196 warrants were reviewed at the Agbor Custodial Centre on July 15, 2026, with no inmate released or granted bail.
At the Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre on July 17, 413 warrants were reviewed, while three inmates were released following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). No inmate was granted bail.
Similarly, at the Warri Custodial Centre on July 20, 294 warrants were reviewed, with five inmates released on the advice of the DPP, while no bail was granted.
During the visit to the Sapele Custodial Centre on July 21, 157 warrants were reviewed and one inmate was released on advice of the DPP, with no bail recorded. At the Remand Home, Sapele, 6 warrants were reviewed and none released or granted bail.
The exercise ended at the Kwale Custodial Centre on Friday, July 24, where 111 warrants of awaiting trial inmates were reviewed. No inmate was released or granted bail.
Addressing stakeholders at the conclusion of the Custodial centre visit in each facility, Justice Diai explained that the initial number on the main and supplementary list of awaiting trial inmates usually undergoes significant reduction before the commencement of the exercise because some of the inmates had either regained freedom or sentenced.
At the Kwale Custodial centre, she noted that the fact that no inmate was released or granted bail at Kwale indicated that the criminal justice process was functioning as expected.
”As you all witnessed here, nobody was released or granted bail. That means everything is as it should be. They are being taken to court and their cases are ongoing. Where anyone deserves bail, the proper application should be made before the trial court handling the matter and not during prison visitation, except in exceptional circumstances requiring my intervention,” she stated.
The Chief Judge commended prosecutors handling criminal cases across the state but expressed concern over the slow pace of trial in some matters.
She cited a criminal matter that has remained pending since 2011, describing such prolonged detention without conclusion of trial as unacceptable.
”No one should remain in custody for six or seven years without their case being heard. I want to eliminate that in Delta State,” Justice Diai declared.
She directed judges handling criminal matters to pay close attention to the dates inmates were admitted into custody and to give priority to older cases to prevent unnecessary delays in the administration of justice.
The Chief Judge also urged prosecutors not to treat criminal cases as though they were beginning afresh whenever there is a change of counsel, stressing that such practices contribute significantly to delays in the justice system.
She praised judicial divisions where criminal matters are progressing steadily to the stages of adoption of final addresses and judgment, encouraging other courts to emulate such efficiency.
Justice Diai reaffirmed the Delta State Judiciary’s resolve to strengthen collaboration with prosecutors, correctional authorities and other justice sector stakeholders to ensure quick dispensation of criminal cases, reduce congestion in custodial centres and uphold the constitutional rights of inmates awaiting trial.
The quarterly custodial centre visits, conducted under the Administration of Criminal Justice framework, remain one of the key mechanisms through which the Delta State Judiciary monitors detention conditions, reviews remand cases and promotes timely access to justice for all persons in custody.
Justice Tessy Diai