VEHICLE SHORTAGE DELAYS COURT APPEARANCES FOR 46 A’IBOM INMATES

At least 46 awaiting-trial inmates at the Medium Security Correctional Centre in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, are facing delays in their court proceedings because the facility does not have a functioning vehicle to transport them to court.

The Officer-in-Charge of the correctional centre, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Samuel Bassey, disclosed the situation when members of the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals Forum visited the facility. He said the transportation challenge had made it difficult for inmates to appear before the courts handling their cases.

According to Bassey, some of the inmates have been held at the facility since 2023 without appearing in court because there has been no operational vehicle available to convey them for their scheduled hearings. The development has raised concerns about how prolonged transportation difficulties could affect the timely administration of justice for people who are still awaiting trial.

The correctional officer explained that the centre has been forced to rely on commercial buses whenever it needs to take inmates to court. He described the arrangement as risky because officers must depend on private transport operators whose reliability and trustworthiness have to be established before inmates can be transported under their supervision.

The transportation problem is particularly significant because the centre's jurisdiction covers nine local government areas and 18 courts. Bassey said none of the correctional centre's vehicles is currently operational, including one that is reportedly at a workshop awaiting repairs.

He appealed for urgent assistance, saying the lack of vehicles was hampering the ability of correctional officers to carry out their responsibilities effectively. According to him, several letters had already been sent to the relevant authorities requesting operational vehicles, but the centre had yet to receive a response.

Bassey called on the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government, corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to intervene. He described the situation as troubling for both inmates and correctional personnel who have to work around the logistical difficulties.

He also disclosed that the last vehicle donated to the centre was provided during the tenure of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, who is now the President of the Senate. The centre's present transportation situation, he suggested, makes another intervention necessary.

Beyond transportation, the correctional facility is also dealing with infrastructure challenges. Bassey said heavy rainfall in the southern region had damaged sections of the roofs, leaving parts of the facility exposed to harsh weather conditions. He noted that the correctional authorities lacked the resources to independently resolve the structural problems.

On the welfare of inmates, however, Bassey said feeding arrangements were adequate under the Federal Government, while healthcare was available through the centre's clinic, where trained medical personnel provide services.

During the visit, the Eket Federal Constituency Media Professionals Forum also proposed working with the correctional centre to provide legal assistance to inmates who do not have lawyers representing them. The group said access to legal services could help address some of the challenges faced by inmates awaiting trial.

The forum further suggested partnering with the correctional authorities to provide vocational and skills-based training for inmates. Such programmes, according to the group, could support rehabilitation and help prepare inmates for reintegration into society after their release.

Members of the forum were also taken around the facility, including the residential quarters used by correctional officers. They observed the deteriorating condition of the accommodation and appealed to the authorities to provide better living and working conditions for personnel.

The transportation crisis at the Eket correctional centre highlights the wider importance of ensuring that awaiting-trial inmates can attend court promptly. With dozens of cases reportedly affected by the lack of operational vehicles, the authorities face growing pressure to provide the logistical support required for the judicial process to proceed without unnecessary delays.