By Felix Ekwu
Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Tessy Diai, will on Monday, May 16, 2022, embark on visits to the five custodial centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and Sapele Remand Home across the state.
A statement by the state Director of Information, Theresa Oliko, said the visit to the Custodial Centres will commence from Monday, May 16 to Friday, May 27, 2022.
According to the statement, the CJ will from Monday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 18, 2022, visit the Custodial Centre in Warri.
Thursday, May 19, 2022, will be the turn of the Custodial Centre and Remand Home in Sapele while on Monday, May 23, 2022, Justice Diai and her team will visit the Custodial Centre in Kwale.
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Justice Diai is scheduled to visit Agbor Custodial Centre and Ogwashi-Uku Custodial Centre from Thursday, May 26 to Friday, May 27, 2022.
The time for the visit each day according to the statement is 10 am.
The statement further implored the Nigerian Correctional Service to forward the list of inmates awaiting trials in the Custodial Centres in the state to the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Asaba; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, and the Commissioner of Police, Police Headquarters, Asaba.
The Registrars in charge of stations and their subordinates in the open courts are also to ensure that their records including, charge sheets, case files containing information, record books and other relevant documents are updated and ready for presentation to facilitate the state CJ’s visits to the custodial centres.
The statement adds that the Director of Public Prosecutions is to ensure that all cases are ready for filing or where legal opinions have been rendered, are authenticated and duly tendered during the visits.
While the state Commissioner of Police and his desk officers and prosecutors in magistrates, as well as Area Customary Courts, are to provide records of case files before magistrates and chairmen of Area Customary courts in line with Section 293 subsection 1 and 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Delta State 2016.
All concerned stakeholders in the administration of justice in Delta State are enjoined to ensure strict compliance with the itinerary for the CJ’s visits.
