One Ephraim Nwauzor, a pastor and gospel artist has lamented that he was left in the Umuahia Correctional Center since 2013 without trial.

Ephraim who appeared  before the Judicial Panel of inquiry sitting in Umuahia as a witness in a case between one Stanley Aneke , (an inmate in the same correctional center) and Controller of prisons Umuahia, Commissioner of Police Abia State, DPO Area command Isiukwuato, and Asst. Commissioner of Police Abia, State CID Umuahia, said he was kept in the correctional center because of an accident case.

According to him, he (Ephraim), his wife and child were driving on his motorcycle when they collided on traffic with another motorcyclist. Unfortunately, the other cyclist did not survive the accident.

He said since 2013, the case has been moving from one court to the other. He added that he has appeared before a court three times.

” The matter was transferred from High Court 1, Isialangwa to Osisioma High Court where it is currently.

” Barrister Nnamdi Uchendu is my lawyer and the matter has been slated for hearing on March, 10, 2021.

” My father and mother has died , they have not been buried and I am still in cell” Ephraim said.

The sitting judge, Justice SN Imo advised him to inform his relations to write to the Chief Judge , informing him of his predicament to get justice .

Meanwhile, Ephraim while giving account to the panel on the main business of the day, said;

“On October, 22, 2020, I was in E- ward 3 Cell, the officer in charge of inmates who are supposed to appear in court by name , Odege, went cell by cell , he came to my cell and informed us that there was an imposed Curfew by the Abia State government . Therefore those who were supposed to appear in court that morning would not go anymore.

” Those who were supposed to appear in court got angry, they started making noise and destroying facilities.

“They destroyed the door, and ceiling of the cell, through which they escaped, including Stanley Aneke”.

He said they were 49 inmates in the cell, he and the other 5 inmates remaining laid down on the cell floor when they heard gunshots from outside. He added that  those who escaped, ran back to the cell at that point. He also noticed that Aneke sustained an injury on his back which warranted him to visit the clinic in the Centre’s premises.

The respondent’s counsel, Promise Onyike, was called to order as he was asking his witness ‘leading questions’, and also quoting Aneke’s testimony. The panel charged him to be fair to the witness.

Also the petitioner’s counsel, M.B Ugo, asked Onyike not to coerce the witness who he said was already giltering .

Bishop Onuoha, a member of the panel, queried how the witness could name  Stanley Aneke as the only inmate out of the 43 who escaped. He added that the witness having spent 8 Years in the cell was supposed to know the names of his fellow inmates .

The witness therein mentioned one Ikechukwu Uka (who has left the correctional center), One Ifeanyi and Daniel.

He said non of the inmates who tried escaping has been charged to court.

The matter was adjourned to March 23, for further appearance .