The Plateau State Ministry of Justice has petitioned the A Division, Nigeria Police, Jos, requesting an investigation into why a remanded inmate at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) custodial centre, Jethro Ngusen, was seen at a bank in the city on July 31.
Ngusen was remanded in prison custody alongside six other suspects over alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of the father of former Governor Joshua Dariye, Pa Dariye Defwan.
But on July 31, the suspect was allegedly accompanied to the bank by officials of the NCoS to withdraw money where the police re-arrested him after they got a tip-off about his presence at the bank.
A petition from the ministry signed by Assistant Director, Citizens’ Rights and Law Reform, J. I. Mantu, alleged that the bank officials had alerted men of the ‘A’ Division of the Plateau State Police command, who stormed the premises and arrested the suspect.
“The ministry is prosecuting Jethro Ngusen alongside six other defendants in charge PLD/1203c/2021: The People of Plateau State vs Ya’u Saidu and 6 ors for the offences of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and murder in the Plateau State High Court of Justice sitting at the West of Mines, Jos, before Hon. Justice G. D. Fwomyom.
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“The defendants have all been remanded at the Jos Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial following the order the honourable court
‘According to information available to the ministry, Jethro Ngusen, an inmate remanded in custody of Jos Correctional centre, was arrested by your officers on the 31st of July, 2023, in a bank when he went to withdraw money and the attention of your division was drawn to that fact from the bank, leading to his arrest by your officers.
“This situation has raised concerns about the potential escape, compromise, misuse of privilege or unauthorised activities in the light of the charges of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Pa Dariye Defwan against the defendants.
“I am directed to kindly request the following information: (a) Investigation Status. An update on the current status of the investigation into Jethro Ngusen’s activities at the bank (b) Charges: The charge of First Information Report (FIR) that has been filed against Jethro Ngusen as a result of his presence at the bank having escaped from the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (c) Evidence: All available evidence, statements or documentation related to the incident at the bank (d) Legal Proceedings: Information about any legal proceeding, court appearances or hearing scheduled for Jethro Ngusen in connection with this incident (e) Jethro Ngusen’s whereabouts and if granted bail by your office, the particulars of his sureties.”