4 babies , 2 expectant mothers among 834 inmates in Uyo prison

Fifty-two females, four babies and two expectant mothers, are among 834 inmates, awaiting trial in Uyo prison, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The state Comptroller of Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Regina Akpan, disclosed this when the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, visited the prison at the weekend.

Akpan, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller of Prison, Uyo Prison, Rev. Ben-Rabbi Freeman, didn’t give details on the four babies and the two expectant mothers being in prison custody.

The State Comptroller of the NPS used the occasion to appeal to the state government to intervene in the provision of some facilities and renovation of the prison.
She thanked the governor for various donations to the prison and for reforming prisons service in the state through provision of new edifices.

Meanwhile, Akpabio had during the visit expressed worry over the living conditions of the prisoners and announced a donation of the sum of N10 million for medical attention of the prison inmates.

He equally directed the state Comptroller to liaise with the Commissioner for Special Duties in a bid to intervene in some areas begging for urgent attention in the Uyo Prison.
In the spirit of the New Year, Akpabio equally announced granting of amnesty to 14 prisoners who are indigenes of the state but are serving various jail terms in different prisons across the country.

Among those who benefited from the governor’s gesture were Ndifreke Isong Ekanem, Samuel Ekanem, Patrick Okon Ekene, Oduok Daniel Jimmy, Charles Kingsley Isong, and Eyakeno Imoh Imoh presently serving in the Port Harcourt prison. Their sentences were converted from death to life imprisonment.

Those serving life imprisonment in Uyo, Calabar and Ikot Ekpene Prisons, including Ofonime John Udoh, Mbong Billy Udobong, Akpan Phillips Akpan, Uweh Iniabasi Okon, Emmanuel Ebong Inyang, Udo Etim Isonguyo, Bassey George and Edem Bassey Etim were set free.

Defending his action, the governor said the Nigerian Constitution empowers him to grant pardon to any prisoner in any part of the country. Accordingly, he advised those pardoned to be of good behaviour and should be fully integrated into the society.