Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
In a major stride toward justice reform and human development, the Ebonyi State Government has released no fewer than 328 inmates under its ongoing Prison Decongestion Programme, marking a bold step in Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s commitment to compassionate governance and social reintegration.
The initiative, championed by Governor Nwifuru and implemented through the Ministry of Justice, has been described as one of the most impactful justice interventions in the state’s history.
Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
He said the decongestion effort aligns with the governor’s People’s Charter of Needs philosophy — a governance framework anchored on compassion, fairness, and inclusivity.
“When the present administration took office, correctional facilities in Ebonyi held about 1,368 inmates, many of whom were awaiting trial or serving minor sentences under harsh conditions,” Oketa stated.
“Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Benjean Uruchi Odoh, launched a comprehensive decongestion campaign that combined legal redress, financial assistance, and restorative justice.”
Working in collaboration with the Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO) — a pet project of the Governor’s wife, Chief (Mrs.) Mary-Maudline Nwifuru — the Ministry paid fines for inmates who had the option of fine or imprisonment.
“This humanitarian gesture led to the release of 109 inmates, who have since been reunited with their families,” he said.
Oketa further noted that beyond their release, the freed inmates were trained and financially empowered to start small-scale businesses to ensure successful reintegration into society.
According to him, the Nwifuru administration also expanded the programme’s scope beyond correctional facilities.
In a sweeping peace and reconciliation effort, 51 former fighters from Ekoli Edda were granted full amnesty for state-related offences. Similarly, 159 combatants involved in the Effium-Ezza Effium crisis were pardoned and enrolled in a state-backed de-radicalization and reintegration programme.
The statement also credited the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) for playing a crucial role in the reform process, securing nine legal victories that led to the release of wrongfully detained inmates who could not afford legal representation.
Through these combined interventions, the state’s inmate population has reduced from 1,368 to 1,013 as of November 5, 2025 — a milestone hailed as unprecedented in Ebonyi’s justice system.
Governor Nwifuru, in his remarks, described the initiative as a demonstration of his administration’s resolve to ensure that “justice reforms, not just punishes.”
“This is about restoring hope, mending broken lives, and reaffirming that justice can be both firm and compassionate,” he said.
The Ebonyi State Prison Decongestion Programme has since been recognized as a model for other states — embodying a governance philosophy where justice is measured not by the number imprisoned but by the number redeemed.
For the 328 freed inmates, the programme represents more than freedom — it is a second chance at life, a renewal of hope, and a reaffirmation that Ebonyi State truly cares for its people.
