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Delayed justice: Man Freed After 18 Years Without Trial In Rivers State
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The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, flagged off the state’s jail delivery exercise with the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre — among them, a man who had spent 18 years behind bars without trial.
The freed inmate, Gospel Nwibari, was reportedly arrested in 2007 at the age of 14 and had remained in detention ever since, with no formal trial or access to legal representation.
His story stood out during the launch of the exercise, which was anchored on the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law and aimed at decongesting prisons and correcting deep-rooted delays in the legal process.
Justice Amadi explained that many of the affected inmates had no case files or traceable charges. He noted that while some were accused of serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery, justice must still follow due process.
“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 added that all releases were subject to verification by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) and were recommended by correctional authorities following detailed case reviews.
Justice Amadi also used the opportunity to counsel the released inmates, urging them to turn a new leaf and avoid falling back into crime. He warned that the road ahead may not be easy, especially in communities still grieving from the alleged offences.
“Society may not always be forgiving. But the law must remain just and humane,” he said.
The Controller of Corrections for Rivers State, Felix Madumere, who was also present, raised the alarm over the growing strain on prison facilities. According to him, the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre — originally built for 1,800 inmates — is now holding over 2,500, creating major logistical and human rights challenges.
“If the state fails to act, we may be forced to halt inmate admissions temporarily to prevent a system breakdown,” Madumere warned.
Perhaps the most emotional moment of the day came with the release of Gospel Nwibari. His brother, Paul Kinani, said the family had presumed him dead after years of fruitless searching.
“I thought he was gone forever. We looked for him everywhere. Getting that call from Haven360 Foundation felt like a miracle,” he said, holding back tears. Kinani confirmed that Gospel would be taken for immediate medical attention, following signs of untreated mental health issues.
Barr Cyrus Onu, President of Haven360 Foundation — the legal advocacy group that traced Gospel’s case in 2020 — described his release as a milestone in the fight 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 pledged the foundation’s continued support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of released inmates, particularly those suffering from psychological trauma or displacement.
Justice Amadi reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to protecting the rights of detainees and reforming systemic inefficiencies within the criminal justice system.
“This is just the beginning. The exercise will continue in other correctional facilities across the state,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Correctional Service, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), legal aid groups, and human rights organisations — all united in a common cause: restoring hope, dignity, and lawful order to those abandoned by the system.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has drawn attention to a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by criminal elements and scammers targeting unsuspecting members of the public.
The fraudsters have been found using the names of top NDLEA officials, most notably the Secretary to the Agency, Barrister Shadrach Haruna, to issue fake private letters and messages offering cheap forfeited vehicles for sale on auction.
The public is hereby notified that these offers are a complete scam. The Agency wishes to categorically state that these fraudulent offers are a malicious gimmick designed solely to defraud targeted individuals of their hard-earned money.
No official of the Agency has the mandate to privately offer, allocate, or sell forfeited vehicles or any other seized assets to individuals. Vehicles and other assets forfeited as proceeds of drug crimes are strictly auctioned through public processes managed by appointed, government-registered auctioneers. Any legitimate auction exercise is widely publicized in national dailies and through the Agency’s official channels, in line with established legal and public procurement guidelines.
Members of the public are strongly urged to discountenance, ignore, and report any such private letters, text messages, or social media offers claiming to originate from Barrister Shadrach Haruna or any other NDLEA official.
The NDLEA remains committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in all its operations. Do not fall victim to these criminal elements. If you are approached with such fraudulent offers, please report immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or via our official communication channels.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Nafiu Gombe has picked Professor Chris Uba as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The party disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer.
The group said the party had already completed its presidential nomination process in line with its constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that Uba emerged as the recognized candidate after all required procedures were concluded.
The faction also disowned the National Working Committee headed by former Senate President David Mark, saying it has no constitutional or legal authority to act on behalf of the party.
It maintained that the recognized leadership of the ADC remains in charge of the party’s affairs.
According to the statement released on Wednesday, the clarification became necessary to stop attempts to create confusion about the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the ADC had not entered into any alliance, merger or coalition with any political party.
added that the party remains independent and intends to contest the elections with its own structure, manifesto and leadership.
The faction said it believes Uba has the experience, character and capacity to lead the country if elected in 2027.
It also warned Atiku against presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate, saying such a claim is false and could mislead party members and the public.
The group added that the ADC would not allow its platform to be used by politicians pursuing personal ambitions or by coalition groups seeking to take over the party’s structure.
It said every constitutional and legal step would be taken to protect the party from what it described as unauthorised use of its name and platform.
The faction also dismissed reports suggesting that there were plans to stop the ADC from participating in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission and the country’s electoral process.
It said the party is preparing to present candidates for the presidency, governorships, National Assembly, state assemblies and local government elections across the country.
Three brothers have appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court in Swaziland on a murder charge following the brutal de@th of their mother’s boyfriend.
The accused, Mlondi Mbuli, 25, Sakhelwe Mbuli, 18, and Lindani Mdziniso, 23, all from the Hholoshini area in Eswatini’s Hhohho Region, are alleged to have fatally assaulted Njabulo Ngwenya on June 28, 2026.
According to police, the brothers att@cked Ngwenya with bricks, stones, sticks, open hands, and kicks to different parts of his body. Investigators allege the assa¥lt was motivated by the brothers’ belief that Ngwenya was having a relationship with their biological mother.
Court records state that the incident was reported after Sibongile Motsa, also from Hholoshini, informed police that she discovered her son, Njabulo Ngwenya, lying deed inside her sister’s house at about 1 a.m. on June 28, 2026.
The matter came before Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati during the trio’s initial court appearance.
The three defendants have been remanded in custody until July 10, 2026, pending committal of the case to the High Court for further proceedings.
Disclaimer: NDLEA alerts public on fraudulent auction offers impersonating officials
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