Pardoning the inmates, Chief Judge Ekaete Obot said the “freed inmates have spent more years in prison than the penalty for the offence upon they were charged with”.

Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot has granted pardon to a 51-old r*pe convict, Ufot Sam Udo, alongside five other inmates of Ikot Abasi Correctional Centre in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state.

The father of three who was convicted for r*pe and has been diagnosed with cardiac failure, was pardoned alongside  27-year-old David Obot Akpan and 26-year-old John Henshaw UkoEkong who were convicted for allegedly organizing what the Police labeled “a system of intimidation called Iceland Confraternity”.

David Isaiah, a 32-year-old father of two from Ikot Ekpaw in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and Isaac Onoita, a 49-year-old native of Adim in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, who were charged for being in possession of stolen bed and foam and have not been taken to Court since 2019, were among those pardoned.

Also freed was one Udo Raphael Ataha, a 45-year-old native of Asong in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area who was charged with intent to intimidate the public. All the freed inmates have been awaiting trial for between two and nine 9-years.

Pardoning the inmates, Chief Judge Ekaete Obot said the “freed inmates have spent more years in prison than the penalty for the offence upon they were charged with”. She urged the inmates to turn a new leaf as they may not be lucky to have another chance.

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