The Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, has decried the Federal Government’s inadequate funding of Correctional Centres across the State.
Justice Marshal Umukoro made the remark when he played host to the Controller of Corrections, State Headquarters, Ovie Esezobor in Asaba.
The Chief Judge who assured the leadership of the Correctional Centre of Judiciary’s collaboration with prison authority for effective administration of Criminal justice in the State, expressed disappointment over a few operational vehicles provided by the Federal Government to the centres to produce large number of inmates awaiting trial to courts.
Surprised to know that less than three vehicles were used by Ogwashi-Uku Correctional centre to produce inmates awaiting trial to 58 courts daily, the Chief Judge urged the Federal Government to scale up its funding for prisons, provide more operational vehicles and improve the welfare of officers as motivation to boost their morale.
He frowned at prison inmates having access to mobile phones with which they communicate with outsiders, describing it not only as dangerous, but create the impression that officers were aiding and abetting the abnormality.
The State Controller of Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. Movie Esezobor said he was in the office of the Chief Judge to appreciate the wonderful work he was doing in the correctional centres across the State.
According to him, the regular visits to the five Correctional centres across the state by the Chief Judge has brought down the number of inmates awaiting trial to 2971, stressing that this has reduced tension in the prison yards, adding his influence has also made the State Government to refurbish all their broken down utility vehicles.
While soliciting extension of hand of fellowship to him, which he had with his predecessor, Mr. Esezobor disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the construction of a three-storey building for 240 beds at Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre to house all condemned convicts in all the centres.
