The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has pardoned a 51-year-old rape convict, Ufot Udo, and five other inmates at the Ikot Abasi Custodial Centre in the Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state.

Udo, a father of three who was convicted of rape, had been diagnosed with cardiac failure.

He was pardoned alongside David Akpan, 27, and John UkoEkong, 26, who organised what the police labelled ‘a system of intimidation called Iceland Confraternity.’

Others include David Isaiah, 32, and Isaac Onoita, 49, who were charged with being in possession of stolen bed and foam, but were not taken to court since 2019, and one Udo Ataha, 45, charged with intent to intimidate the public.

Some of the freed inmates were said to have been awaiting trial between two and nine years.