70% of inmates await trial in Cross River - The Guardian Nigeria News
Quick administration of justice is being crippled in Cross River State as 70 percent of inmates in custodial centres across the state are still awaiting trial, largely due to lack of vehicles to convey them to court and poor funding of the judiciary.
Statistics from the Cross River Judiciary 2026 decongestion report show that as at August 2026, a total of 896 inmates are awaiting trial out of 1,278 inmates occupying six custodial centres in the state, while only 383 have been convicted.
The figure represents a sharp rise from 2024 when 707 inmates were awaiting trial out of 1,075 total inmates. The number of awaiting trial inmates has increased by 189, about 26.7 percent, in one year.
Calabar custodial centre alone has 523 inmates awaiting trial, with 234 convicted. Obubra has 105 awaiting trial, Ikom 108, Ogoja 73, and Obudu 78.
The last decongestion tour of custodial centres was held November 11 to 15, 2025, when 70 inmates were released – Calabar 20, Ogoja 28, Obudu 3 – but the numbers have again overshot previous year’s figure within nine months.
Controller of Corrections has blamed the situation on insufficient vehicles and inadequate funding for fueling, which has affected regular conveyance of inmates to and from courts and stalled criminal trials.
“Insuficient vehicles and inadequate funding for fuelling remain a major setback. This has affected regular conveyance of inmates to and from courts, which in turn affects quick dispensation of criminal trials,” the report quoted the Controller.
The report also revealed that judiciary is battling financial autonomy crisis. The Cross River State Judiciary Funds Management Law No. 4, 2021, signed by former Governor Ben Ayade on August 17, 2021, which grants judiciary direct access to funds budgeted for its capital and recurrent expenditures, is yet to be implemented five years after.
“Without implementation, the judiciary remains handicapped and continues to approach the executive for funding, thus undermining our independence,” the Chief Judge lamented in the report.
Infrastructure is also described as “deplorable and alarming.” High Court complex headquarters is cracking and leaking in the roof, judges’ chambers and courtrooms lack furniture and air conditioners, while Probate Department that generates most revenue lacks computers, storage devices and alternative power.
On manpower, judiciary is operating with 506 staff against required 3,000. Forty-five staff retired in outgoing legal year with specialised knowledge, while 21 more are expected to retire this year, creating vacuum that affects filing, service of processes and productivity.
The report however commended Governor Bassey Otu for restoring electricity from national grid at Moore Road Complex and approval by State Executive Council for building of multipurpose hall and renovation of judiciary headquarters.
It noted that Small Claims Court is living up to expectation, disposing 98 out of 105 cases filed within 60 days, proving that speedy justice is possible when system is supported.
