The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikoyi prisons

  • Pollution: Ikoyi Prisons may be relocated

    Pollution: Ikoyi Prisons may be relocated

    Indications emerged yesterday that the Ikoyi Prisons may soon be relocated due to the environmental nuisance it presently constitutes in the highbrow neighborhood in the state.

    The State’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after monitoring the October edition of monthly environmental sanitation in Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area of the state, said the 61-year old facility had outlived its usefulness in the vicinity.

    Adejare said, “We also visited Ikoyi prison to see the challenge there. I can assure you that we will tackle it. We will see how we would work with the Federal Prison Service to ensure that we provide sewage system. There is a larger thing coming into play soon; that is relocation of the prison. The facility had passed its usefulness. The most valuable land in Africa is there. We should not have such in that location. We are discussing with the Federal Government to deal with the relocation.

    “In the interim, the Lagos State Government will provide the prison with better sewage system. They can also relocate the facility when the prison is relocated. His Excellency will come out with the official statement.”

    The Commissioner, who harped on the environmental challenges rocking Dolphin and Osborne Estates, said the problem in the estates premised on flooding.

    “There will be need to deepen some certain part of the roads within the estate. A lot of the Lagoon way flows into the estate whenever there are tidal waves. And that was why we have been sensitizing the public on climate change. The estates had existed over 30 years and the estate had never recorded such flood like this. There is an issue and we are saying it is climate change. Larger percent of the world water are kept as ice but they are melting at a high rate. As a government, we will work with the residents to address the issue.”

    On his part, Sole Administrator of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, Hon. Felix Ona-Olawale, said the government will no longer tolerate illegal structures in the area. According to Ona-Olawale, “Structures erected on the right of way at the canal on Ribadu will not return. We will be working with the garrison commander and other security agencies. We will work to ensure a gate is erected to prevent further encroachment on the facility.”

  • Suspected rapist remanded in Lagos prison

    A 50-year-old man, Suleman Buhari, who is charged with raping a 13-year-old girl in a Lagos Island market, is to remain behind bars indefinitely, a court has ruled.

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, denied the accused bail even after he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    He was ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O.A.Ogunbowale, asked the accused to approach a competent court of jurisdiction – High Court – for bail.

    She directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

    The accused, who resides at Shop 50, Ojaoba Market (named after the traditional ruler) on the island, is being tried for unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual assault.

    Earlier, Police Prosecutor Ajaga Agboko said the accused committed the offence of rape on Oct. 5 in the market.

    “The accused unlawfully had a carnal knowledge of the girl in the market.’’

    The offences contravened Sections 137 and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The case has been adjourned to Nov. 9 for DPP’s advice

  • ‘Prison is no dungeon’

    The Nigerian Prisons (Lagos State Command) has debunked the notion that the Prisons are a mare warehouse for criminals and a dungeon as many have assumed it to be; but a place run as a genuine corrective institution where a substantial number of inmates have been certified on skill and vocation and ready to be integrated to the society.

    A Superintendent of the Prisons, Mr Biyi Jeje spoke recently in the Premises of Ikoyi Prisons during a Vocation and Rehabilitation of inmates and inauguration of Ikoyi Prisons Football Academy by the Joseph Yobo Foundation in collaboration with Sisters Cities, a non-governmental Organisation.

    Jeje noted that Ikoyi prison, which was built in 1955, has the capacity for 800 inmates but presently 2303 are being accommodated, whereas 1963 are still awaiting trials and 340 convicted of various offences. According to him, despite the large population, the system believes that the individual is better after the sentence having Educational and Vocational Skills instilled in them that make them self-relevant and law abiding after their discharge.

    He said; “A substantial number of inmates have been certified in skill and vocation and ready to be integrated.”

    Super Eagles Player, Joseph Yobo, who addressed the inmates promised to ensure that talents from the academy is strengthened by assisting them get into various football clubs. He expressed happiness that prisoners are well occupied with activities as against what he earlier thought of it.

    Director of Sister City Vocation, Mrs Joy Nuniel said the Academy was setup to stop revisiting of inmates to prisons.

    A Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Julius Ezugwu, called on partners to create a platform for inmates by facilitating their discharge and giving them a lifeline upon discharge.

     

  • Ambode seeks FG partnership to relocate Ikoyi Prisons

    Ambode seeks FG partnership to relocate Ikoyi Prisons

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday sought the support of the Federal Government to facilitate the relocation of the Ikoyi Prisons.

    The Governor who spoke when the Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.) paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja, urged the minister to revisit the agreement on the relocation of Ikoyi Prisons, assuring that the State Government was willing to provide land for construction of a modern day structure for the facility.

    He also urged the minister to revisit the partnership between the Federal Government and Lagos State especially in combating the frequent fire disasters in the state and reducing the influx of illegal immigrants in the state.

    According to the governor, the incessant fire disasters witnessed in the state in recent times has necessitated a need for the Federal Fire Service to collaborate with the State Fire Service to jointly combat fire disasters.

    Governor Ambode, who said the partnership between the State Government and Federal Government was more about development of the country because Lagos mirrors Nigeria, further sought collaboration of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well as the Nigerian Legion in protecting public utilities in the state.

    He said, “We believe strongly that if we have a secured state, we will be able to create a platform for job opportunities for the people and where we are able to do that, we are inviting local and foreign investors to the state. We will also be able to use the taxes we get on those jobs to improve on the infrastructure in the state. So, that is the tripod that the administration is built upon.

    “I want to say that the real cornerstone is more about the internal safety and security of lives and property in the state and we have not minced any word in sending that message across on a daily basis. We are committed to the security of lives and property in the state and we will do everything to ensure that we support all the agencies that are under your ministry because that is what is going to assist us in developing the state and actually create jobs for our people,” Governor Ambode said.

    On his part, Dambazau lauded the state government for the equipment purchased for the Police last year to the tune of N4.7billion, saying such gesture was unprecedented in the history of Nigeria and a sign of seriousness about the security of lives and property of residents.

    Dambazau, said with his years of experience as a military officer, he had never seen that kind of massive investment in security by a State Government, and as such the present administration deserves to be commended for taking the bold initiative to give priority to the safety of the people.

    The Minister, who is in Lagos on a three-day tour of facilities and infrastructure of security agencies in the state, said Lagos State is the vanguard of support for the Ministry of Interior, adding that the gesture of the State Government was very well noted and appreciated.

    He said: “I’m here with all my service heads. We are here on tour of the facilities of the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry, as you know, is the hub of public safety and security in this country. Everything that has to do with public internal security and public safety is our responsibility.

    “We know that Lagos State is the vanguard in support of the Ministry of Interior. I was here few months back when the State Government donated security equipment to the police. I have never seen that done before and so we really want to urge the government and the good people of Lagos State to continue to support us and we assure that we would carry out our mandate in a way that the people will be happy,” Dambazau said.

  • Lagos CJ frees 11 inmates

    Lagos CJ frees 11 inmates

    11 inmates of Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos, have been released by the state Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, to celebrate the new year with their families.

    Justice Atilade granted freedom to 10 awaiting trial inmates on Wednesday, while one was released on Tuesday from prison.

    ‎The release of the inmates was in exercise of the powers conferred on the Chief Judge of the state pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Special Provision Act CAP C40, 2007, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    The chief judge ‎said the gesture was not just aimed at decongesting the prison but also to ensure that deserving inmates are made to breathe fresh air of freedom.

    “Though significant, our visit coming at this time of the year is not designed as a coincidence but in exercise of our statutory responsibilities to dispense justice with fairness and to ensure that people are not unduly kept behind bars”, she stressed adding “this among others has been top on my priorities since assumption of office in August, 2014”.

    Justice Atilade disclosed that the High Court of Lagos State has introduced a new initiative named “Bail Information Management System (BIMS) to facilitate speedy trials and dispensation of cases and to ensure a drastic reduction in the number of awaiting trials.

    She described the new initiative as “a ground breaking innovative stride to improve administration of criminal justice in Lagos state and to minimize delays in the prosecution of persons awaiting trials, particularly those in prison custody”.

    ‎Aside guaranteeing ease of access to relevant information as may be required for effective bail management; she said BIMS is also intended to eliminate all known challenges in criminal prosecution.

    ‎Atilade admonished the freed inmates to “go and sin no more” and be of good behaviour and make positive impacts in the society.

    “In congratulating the beneficiaries of today’s exercise, I must note that they are being given another opportunity to start afresh, more so as it is coming on the eve of a new year.

    “I do sincerely hope and pray that those being granted amnesty today will be of good conduct and would do no such thing capable of bringing them back into prison.” She said.

    The Chief Judge urged to Office of the Public Defender, the Nigerian Bar Association and Non-Governmental Organisations to assist inmates whose cases are ongoing to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    The Deputy Controller, Ikoyi Prisons, Mr. Julius Ezugwu, in a welcome address said the facility which had a capacity for 800 inmates currently held 2084 inmates.

    He said; “the prison currently holds 2,084 inmates. The numbers of convicted inmates are 210 while those awaiting trial are 1,874.”

    Ezugwu noted the very cordial working relationship that currently exists between members of the Criminal Justice System made up of the judiciary, the police and some non-governmental organisations.‎

    “The synergy and collaboration amongst us has translated into the orderly, stable and peaceful community that abounds in this prison,” he said.

     

  • JAMB shifts Ikoyi Prisons exams to March 17

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday shifted the 2015 Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Ikoyi Prisons inmates.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 28 inmates are among candidates scheduled to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 400 centres nationwide.

    Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Public Relations Officer (PRO), told NAN on telephone that the postponement of the test was to ensure effective monitoring.

    He said all logistics to ensure the successful conduct of the examination at the prison had, however, been put in place, adding that it would now hold on March 17.

    Benjamin said reports reaching the board showed that no hitches had been recorded at other centres in Lagos.

    He said over 1.4 million candidates are participating in this year’s examination, which is fully computer-based.

    Deputy Controller of Prisons Ikoyi Prisons, Mr Aliyub Usman, told NAN that the 28 candidates writing the examination were ready to go.

    He said that before the news of the postponement reached the prisons, the candidates were all seated in the hall fully prepared, only to be told that the examination would no longer hold.

    According to him, the inmates are not deterred by the postponement as they are focused and determined to excel.

  • 48 awaiting trial inmates pass WASSCE

    48 awaiting trial inmates of Ikoyi prisons passed the November/December 2013 General Certificate of Examination (GCE) convincingly.

    The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele, disclosed this on Monday during a visit to the place by members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch.

    NBA members were at the prison to present gifts to the inmates as part of activities marking the 2014 Law Week.

    He said the 48 were among the 102 inmates that wrote the examination.

    “When they finally regained their freedom, they can seek admission into any university of their choice, since they are awaiting trial,” deputy controller said.

    He explained that one key objective of the “Rehabilitation, Restoration and Reintegration” (3Rs) programme of the Prison is to provide education opportunities for the inmates so that they can be useful to themselves and the society whenever they regained freedom.

    He disclosed that out of 1,761 inmates in the prison, 186 are convicted while 1,575 are awaiting trial for upwards of between five and 13 years.

    The NBA chairman, Mr. Monday Ubani, raised the hope of the inmates when he disclosed that the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, would visit the prison soon to release awaiting trial inmates.

    Ubani, who said the NBA is in contact with the chief judge and the Ministry of Justice disclosed that names of those to be released are being compiled.

    “Believe me, this travail would soon be over for some of you when the Chief Judge visits in May,” he said.