The Anambra State Government has granted clemency to Chinedu Udeora, an inmate at the Awka Correctional Centre who endured three years of incarceration with a broken leg and no orthopaedic care.

Sources within the prison confirmed to FIJ on Wednesday that Onochie Anyachebelu, the State’s Chief Judge, granted the pardon after FIJ reported Udeora’s plight.

This confirmation comes a week after Kenneth Amakeze, a priest in the Awka Diocese of the Catholic Church, informed FIJ of the development. Amakeze said he learnt some organisations read FIJ’s report and took it up with the state.

He also said Udeora’s release happened on December 4, 11 days after the story went public. At the time, FIJ called the prison to confirm the development, but no one responded.

READ MORE: In Anambra Prison, Man Drags Broken Leg Around for 3 Years Without Orthopaedic Care

Relaying the release to FIJ, Amakeze said, “So glad to learn that Chinedu has been released. I wanted to make a post but wouldn’t know how best to put it or who else to credit. You did this. God bless you always, amen. It wouldn’t have been possible at this time without your intervention.”

On Wednesday, an official with information on the matter told FIJ it was true as an internal review occurred, and the justice department decided on Udeora’s release.

Amakeze first saw Udeora in 2021 during a visit to the prison on one of his missionary outreaches. He told FIJ that like most inmates, Udeora was not very chatty about the offence he was accused of, but there was no conviction against him.

This inmate, like over 50,000 others all over Nigeria, was awaiting trial. Before his incarceration, he survived a truck accident that rendered one of his legs broken.

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”I began sending money for his drugs and the treatment of other inmates, but Udeora looks like he may need an amputation or bone setting,” Amakeze told FIJ.

Prison officials said they were giving him the best medical care they could offer, but no one had offered to spend on his orthopaedic care.

FIJ called the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) in November. An NCoS responder said the service would look into the matter and get back to the reporter, but they never did.

FIJ also sent messages to Alao Babatunde, the Chief Press Secretary to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior. Babatunde promised that the ministry would look into the matter.
The post After FIJ’s Story, Anambra Releases Prisoner Whose Broken Leg Got No Orthopaedic Care for 3 Years appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.