MORE PRISONERS RELEASED BY ABSU LAW CLINIC

UP!Some of our pictures from the Prisons-

The ABSU Law Clinic work has continued to yield further fruits with the release of two prisoners from Aba and Okigwe prisons this week. The prisoners, in this report are simply referred to as Mr. CA and Mr. CO (for confidentiality purposes), were released on 4/4/2011 and 6/4/2011 respectively. Reports from the Clinic Units at Aba and Okigwe indicate they have since rejoined their families.

We reported last week that the Clinic embarked on a visit to Aba prisons where about twenty prisoners were interviewed. Following that, the student-clinicians proceeded to the courts where the cases were pending, located the case files and obtained relevant information to aid the work, e.g. the charge sheet, fact of legal representation, the stage of the case, etc.

The Clinic identified the subject two cases therefrom and moved to secure their immediate release. On 30th March, CA’s case was called up and the Clinic engaged the services of O.O. Anya Esq who successfully applied and got his bail conditions reviewed. On Monday April 4, 2011 he was released from prison after the new bail conditions were perfected.


The Clinic also secured an order for the release on bail of another prisoner, Mr. U. However as at the time of this report, his brother, David who happens to be a painter was unable to fulfill the condition especially as regarding three years tax clearance required by the court. He was then asked to get another relation of theirs who can satisfy the said condition while the Clinic is considering an application for the variation of the bail terms to enable the family fulfill same. The Clinic team for Aba includes Kalu Nnamdi Collins 500L, Mrs. Peace Ogbonna 500L and Emeh Cyril 400L, and they have been working under the supervision of Mr. C.K Nwankwo. Kudos to the team.

For Mr. CO, his case is a little unique. In the course of a follow up visit to the prison, the prison authorities informed us of a young man who was convicted for stealing yam and sentenced to one year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N2,000. Inquiries from the prison Welfare office revealed that, not only was he a first offender, but was truly repentant and had been of good behaviour. The Welfare Officer also informed us that there were chances of his becoming a hardened criminal if allowed to mingle with fellow convicts. The Clinic thus took the decision to assist the young man with the payment of the fine, after the Welfare office promised to conduct a counseling session for him before his discharge from the prison.
On Monday March 28th, the clinic went to Urualla Magistrate Court where we were able to pay the fine and fill the release order and he was released today April 6, 2011.The team for this work comprised of Chioma Nwigwe 500L and Nwagboso Chikezie 400L. Kudos.


Meanwhile, an application for the striking out of the armed robbery charge against Mr. Chib currently ongoing at the Isuikwuato High Court is expected to be filed before the end of the week as the clinic has secured a lawyer to represent him. His parents are scheduled to visit the Clinic this week to express their gratitude over the Clinic’s assistance thus far. A similar application is also expected to be moved this week for Mr. Chined who has been in custody for eight years. A visit to the Magistrate Court today confirmed there is not case file for his case. The case file is said to be part of those destroyed during a fire inferno that razed the court building some years ago.It is expected that a single application may be enough to secure the dismissal of the case.