Matters involving witnesses in detention in Correctional Centers in Anambra State were on Friday suspended in various courts following alleged security threat around correctional facilities in the State.
In many courts, lawyers who were to examine or cross examine such witnesses in detention were thrown into confusion over absence of officials of Corrections Centres and their witnesses in court.
Although reason for such decision was still unclear as at press time, but Police stations were reportedly put on alert over the development.
Daily Vendor gathered that in one of the courts around Onitsha, a Prosecuting counsel informed a presiding Chief Magistrate that only detained witnesses in police custody would appear in court pending when the order would be lifted.
A source who spoke on the issue said: “Many cases have been adjourned because of security challenges around Correctional Centers.
“The absence of the Awaiting Trial Men who were supposed to appear in courts for their cases could not do so as there is a standing order from the prison officials that no detainee would leave the Correctional Center for any place outside the prison walls.
“For any ATM to be taken out of the Correctional Center for any reason for now must be by a special arrangement, which may not be easy to make.”
Some courts however, decided that hearing of cases would continue in the absence of witnesses to avoid unnecessary delay in trial.
When contacted, a source from the Correctional Services, refuted the alleged security threat, saying, “We take inmates to court regularly. I just finished reading the news now, there’s no iota of truth in it.”
