A member of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Nse Essien, has freed 12 inmates from the Uyo Correctional Centre who could not meet their conditions.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Essien disclosed this during the final kick-off of a football match between “Chelsea and Manchester United” at the Uyo Correctional Centre on Sunday.
The lawmaker paid the bail amount for the 12 inmates in the sum of N1.5 million. According to him, he has been releasing inmates for over seven years as a member of the state assembly.
“I have been celebrating this day with inmates, so far, in the past seven years, I have paid for 177 inmates to regain their freedom.
”Today, I am adding another 12 after paying N1.5 million, making a total of 189 inmates,” Essien said.
He urged the inmates not to see their current condition as the end of the world, ”rather, learn the lessons, get reformed, be better citizens and ambassadors of Nigeria when out of the centre.
“The correctional centre is a place for reformation and you don’t have to see it as the end of the world; rather see it as an avenue to amend your ways, learn some critical lessons and be better members of the society.
“I must appreciate the staffers of the centre for their professional conduct and I pray God to bless them for their sacrifices to humanity.
”You must be obedient to the constituted authority, pray hard and become good members of the society in future.”
