The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kirikiri inmates

  • Prison Fellowship trains Kirikiri inmates

    THE Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PFN) has trained 43 Kirikiri Prison inmates in various skills.

    They participated in PFN’s Life Recovery Pre-Release Empowerment Programme (also known as  Onisemus Project).

    They were trained in shoemaking, hand wash production, among others.

    PFN Coordinator Pastor Nasiru Sule-Bamigbola said the inmates comprise 26 males and 17 females.

    They graduated after a training that lasted one and half years.

    He said 47 new inmates enrolled for the programme and matriculated at the event.

    The programme was organised in partnership with the Covenant University (CU).

    Sule-Bamigbola praised CU and its founder Bishop David Oyedepo for their commitment to the welfare of prison inmates in Lagos.

    The event was the ninth graduation for inmates of Kirikiri Prison, which held at the Minimum Prison hall.

    Sule-Bamigbola also thanked the Small and Medium Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) for its support to the programme.

    He canvassed assistance to the group to enable it be accommodate more inmates.

    He announced that next year, the programme would hold its 10th graduation.

    Controller of Prison, Lagos Command, Tunde Ladipo, said the training meant that the time spent in prison was no more a waste.

    He said many had graduated with a bachelor’s degree in prison, some masters and two admitted by CU for doctoral degree.

    He said this indicated something good could come out of the prison and that they could be independent after their release.

    ‘’The inmates are serious and well-informed, well-groomed and are ready to the world,’’ he said.

    He advised them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and not to go back to crime.

    Guest speaker Oba Kunle Oyeyemi, who spoke on ‘’The place of security, justice and social development in a changing world’’, advised youths to remain focused to achieve their aspiration.

    He listed many youths in Nigeria and abroad who many it before 30, adding that the General Yakubu Gowon and the late Murtala Muhammed were youths when they became heads of state.

    He mentioned the late Anini, Osunbor, Oyenusi, and Shina Rabbo as some youths who were notorious armed robbers.

    Oba Oyeyemi, who is the Oloba of Oba-Ile in Osun State, warned youths against drug abuse, adding that reportly 40 per cent of youths are engaged in drug abuse and that 80 per cent of mad people are youths.

    To make youths less vulnerable to crime and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS, the monarch suggested that more attention should be paid to youth matters.

    He urged the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and religious groups to collaborate in empowering the youths.

    At the event were PFN Executive Director Mr Benson Iwuagwu and its Lagos State Chairman Pastor J. B. Olawepo.

    Iwuagwu, a lawyer, took the oath of graduation and presented certificates to awardees.

  • Two Kirikiri inmates studying for PhD

    The Lagos Prisons Command says education behind bars is getting more interesting, with two of its inmates pursuing PhD at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

    The Controller of Prisons, Lagos Command, Mr. Tunde Ladipo, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that there was renewed interest in education among inmates across prisons.

    He said the progress and courage exhibited by the two PhD inmates had caused a new zeal for academic pursuit among other inmates.

    “The command is committed in ensuring that no inmate is left behind in terms of education, as this is part of the reformation we are carrying out.

    “Sometime around May or June, two of the inmates, who have acquired their master’s degrees, enrolled for their PhD at the newly-established National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) centre at the Kirikiri facility.

    “One of the inmates is studying Business Management and the other, Peace and Conflict Resolution. The vice chancellor of NOUN, who presented them with the letter approving their PhD courses, said it is tuition free.”

  • Cleric donates food to Kirikiri inmates, orphanage

    Cleric donates food to Kirikiri inmates, orphanage

    It was a ray of hope and joy at the weekend for the inmates of Kirikiri Maximum Prison and the children and staff of Heart of Gold Hospice Motherless Babies’ Home in Surulere, as the General Overseer, Word and Spirit Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Chris Ekeh, celebrated his 40th birthday with them.

    The event started with prayers, praise and worship to Almighty God, after which the inmates and staff of the Prison expressed gratitude and appreciation to the pastor for the gesture.

    While addressing the inmates, Pastor Ekeh urged them to confess their sins and put their hope in God, saying soonest God will set them free.

    He advised them not to see their present condition as the end of their lives, adding that it will make them become agents of change in future.

    “Being in the prison is not the end of life but God wanted to use it to bring about the forgiveness of their sins, salvation; deliverance and to transform their lives.”

    He urged them to always smile irrespective of the difficulties because there is hope when there is life.

    They were further enjoined to hope in God in all circumstances, saying that those who were yet to accept Jesus Christ should do so, because in Christ there is word, life and everlasting prosperity.

    The man of God said he chose to celebrate his birthday with them just to thank God.

    He said: “Forty years is not 40 days. Many of those they grew up together had died, while many have ended up as prisoners due to some crimes that metamorphosed from picking pockets. When they are doing that, they believe they are enjoying. Despite the oppression and intimidation then, God prevented him from joining them.”

    According to him, he wants to use the opportunity to positively transform lives both morally and spiritually.

    “Life is not only about party and what you take but what you give to impact to humanity. Life is not about contributions and distributions,” he said.

    He urged the inmates to ensure their experiences in the pris on counts after their freedom.

    The clergyman pledges to visit them regularly and ceaseless supports to them and the prison yards.

    Responding, the inmates raised their hands towards the direction of the clergyman and prayed for him that God should continue to elevate him, his family and the ministry.

    The Assistant Controller of Prison (ACP) Iriri, who spoke on behalf of the management, praised Pastor Ekeh for his love and kindness in celebrating his birthday with inmates of the prison. He appealed for continued visit to them and be part of the agent that will find solution to the challenges facing the prisoners in the course of serving out their term.

    He said the inmates are lagging behind, saying some programmes such as education, skill training and empowerment, motivators, generating sets and food items are lacking.

    The birthday cake was cut in support of the important dignitaries and church members present at the event, while various gifts and other essential items were provided for the inmates and children at the motherless babies’ home.

    Among those who were present at the event included popular Nollywood stars such as Chinyere Winifred Ameachi Muonago and Ebere Okaro.

    Some of the items donated to the home were money, food stuffs, baby clothes, diapers and sanitary materials.

    While receiving the items, the proprietress of the motherless babies’ home, Mrs. Adedoyin Adelaja, thanked the clergyman and his entourage for their support. She urged them to be more committed to the service of humanity and champion the cause of the less-privileged people.

    She also called on Nigerian leaders, politicians, religious leaders to support the less-privileged morally and financially. Through this, she said, the level of poverty and nuisance would be reduced if not eradicated in the society.

  • Lagos CJ frees 21 Kirikiri inmates

    Lagos CJ frees 21 Kirikiri inmates

    LAGOS STATE Chief Judge Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade yesterday freed 21 awaiting trial inmates at Kirikiri Medium Prisons.

     She freed them in exercise of the powers conferred on her under Section 1 (1) of the Criminal Justice Release from Custody Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.

    Her gesture is part of efforts to decongest prisons.

    Justice Atilade was accompanied by Justices Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Aishat Opesanwo, Kudirat Jose, Lateef Lawal-Akapo and Sedoten Ogunsanya as well as her Chief Registrar Emmanuel Ogundare and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs Idowu Alakija.

    She advised the freed inmates to be of good behaviour henceforth, saying: “I release all you today 17th day of June, 2015 from custody pursuant to the powers conferred on me and admonish you to go and sin no more.”

    Most of the inmates had spent more time in prison custody than they would have if they had been tried and convicted.

    Justice Atilade urged them to refrain from crime because the government has zero tolerance for it.

    She implored others not to lose hope in the system, cases would be reviewed periodically to release those who have spent more time in prison than they would have if convicted.

    The judge restated her commitment to an effective justice delivery system where the courts work efficiently and the prisons are not congested.

    Her visit to the prison to release inmates, she said, would be continuous, adding: “ Those of you released should, henceforth, be of good behaviour. The state government is committed to a crime-free Lagos and anyone found committing crime will be arrested and prosecuted.”

    Justice Atilade appealed to non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) and other stakeholders working with the prisons authority to ensure that those released are re-integrated into the society.

    Earlier in his opening remark, Officer-In-Charge of the prison, Deputy Controller (DCP) Kayode Odeyemi thanked Justice Atilade for exercising her powers in releasing the inmates’ favour.

    He said: “My Lord, today the criminal justice system of Lagos State has taken a leap in seeing that justice is done to all as a result of your visit to the prison because a good number of of inmates with minor offences will be let off the hook.”

    Odeyemi thanked the immediate past administration for approving the fortification of the prisons before leaving office.

    He appealed to the Judiciary and the executive to assist the prison authority with trucks and buses to ease the challenge of conveying inmates to court.

    A total of 2452 inmates are in the prison built to take 1,700 inmates. About 2349 are awaiting trial, 92, convicts, 32, detainees, and  21 described as lodgers/acquitals.