The Anambra State Controller of Corrections, Ezinne Onuoha, has said court appearances for inmates are frequently delayed due to logistical challenges, particularly a shortage of operational vehicles. She spoke during a visit to the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), in Awka on Friday. Onuoha explained that a single vehicle is often required to transport multiple inmates to different courts across jurisdictions, creating significant operational hurdles. The visit, she said, was to introduce herself, congratulate Nweke on his appointment, and foster cooperation between the correctional service and the Ministry of Justice.
In response, Nweke pledged to accelerate justice delivery to decongest correctional centres. He revealed that many inmates remain in custody without trial, and some families do not know where their relatives are being held. He has ordered a full inventory of all inmates, including those awaiting trial, those granted bail but yet to meet conditions, and those remanded. Convicted persons serving sentences are also to be included. This data, he said, will help the Ministry of Justice review cases and take necessary legal steps to reduce overcrowding.
Nweke described the failure to produce inmates in court as a major impediment to justice. He insisted legal opinions from the ministry should take no more than one month and questioned why some cases remain untried for up to six months. He directed that letters be sent to enable prosecution of inmates not yet formally charged and urged the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to identify all awaiting-trial inmates in high and magistrates' courts. He commended Onuoha as the first female Controller of Corrections in Anambra and affirmed his commitment to working with her to improve justice administration.
Ezinne Onuoha points to vehicle shortages as the reason inmates miss court dates, yet she leads a department that has not resolved this issue under previous administrations. The same logistical gaps have persisted for years, meaning inmates continue to languish without trial. Tobechukwu Nweke's call for faster legal opinions and inmate inventories will not matter if transport for court appearances remains broken. Without fixing vehicle deficits, promises of justice speed-up serve only officials, not prisoners.
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