Justice Alloy Nwankwo, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi on Monday in Abakaliki freed 26 awaiting trial inmates of the Abakaliki prisons in a jail delivery exercise.
A Septuagenerian, John Nomeh accused of alleged defilement of a minor was among the 26 inmates who were granted bail during the exercise.
Emeka Anosike, Chairman of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Ebonyi chapter, who filed a bail application on behalf of the accused, said the 70-year old had been on awaiting trial since June 27, 2018.
He informed the court that the accused had not been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
He also told the court that the suspect had no case file, adding that information was not filed by the Department of Public Prosecution DPP, in the case.
He prayed the Chief Judge to discharge the accused for want of prosecution or on the alternative grant him bail.
Isreal Alaobu, the DPP said the offence allegedly committed by the accused was punishable under the Child‘s Right Act of Ebonyi.