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Tag: Prison inmates

  • Prison inmates not poorly fed, says Correctional Service

    Prison inmates not poorly fed, says Correctional Service

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has debunked insinuations that prison inmates in the country are malnourished and poorly fed.

     The Service described the claim as false, misleading, and a gross misrepresentation of the realities within Correctional facilities.

    The service, through its public relations officer, Umar Abubakar, said insinuations that inmates are poorly fed are recycled stories meant “to create ruckus where none exists.”

    Abubakar, a Deputy Controller of Corrections, said in a statement that “the Service operates under strict guidelines as provided by the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, which mandates the provision of adequate nutrition, healthcare, and general welfare for all inmates.”

    Abubakar said, “Inmates are provided with meals that meet the nutritional requirements recommended by health professionals and monitored routinely by the ration committee set up by the Controller General of Corrections.

    “Our menu plans are standardised and reviewed periodically to align with evolving health standards and budgetary provisions.

    “Also, in response to current economic realities and rising inflation, the Federal Government of Nigeria has recently approved an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates in custodial centres from the previous rate to N1,125 per inmate per day.

    “This adjustment is aimed at ensuring that inmates receive adequate and nutritious meals in line with acceptable welfare standards.

    “The increment reflects the government’s commitment to the humane treatment of persons in custody and the broader reforms being implemented within the Nigerian Correctional Service to uphold dignity, human rights, and international best practices.

    “Furthermore, the feeding of inmates is not conducted in secrecy as several independent oversight bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, civil society groups, and international partners, periodically assess the conditions in our custodial centres.

    “None of their recent reports support the dehumanising portrayal circulated by certain individuals or interest groups about the welfare of inmates.”

    The service remains that it is committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all inmates in line with international best practices. 

  • 51 prison inmates bag first, post-degrees

    51 prison inmates bag first, post-degrees

    • NOUN to confer Speaker Tajuddeen, Adesina with Ph.Ds

    Fifty-one inmates of the Nigeria Immigration Service correctional centres in the country are among 17, 420 students who will be conferred with various degrees at the  14th convocation of  National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) tomorrow and Saturday.

    Ten of them are postgraduate students.  

     Out of the 17, 420 students,   16   obtained First class degrees;  1,417 Second Class (Upper Division);  5,518 Second Class (Lower Division);  2,761 Third class and 138 Pass.  Forty will bag a Doctor of Philosophy(Ph.D).

    During the ceremony, two prominent Nigerians — House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and African Development Bank Group President  Akinwumi Adesina– will be honoured with doctoral degrees.

      Vice – Chancellor of NOUN  Olufemi Peters made these known to reporters in Abuja yesterday.

    Read Also: Abia distributes palliatives to prison inmates, orphanages, others

    Peters  said: “I want to report that this is another opportunity for us to celebrate the academic achievements of our students. A total of 17,420 will be graduating this year, comprising 10,967 undergraduates and 6,413 postgraduates. And then we have 40 students graduating at the PhD level.

    “The total number of graduates from correctional centres this year is 51. This is extremely high-41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates from correctional centres.”

    The vice-chancellor also stated that the institution is deploying technology to a great extent in the way it teaches its students.

    He highlighted key reforms, including improvements in the university’s infrastructure, research funding, and delivery systems.

  • PFN ordains 48 inmates as evangelists in Jos Prison

    The Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has ordained 48 inmates of the Jos Prison as evangelists.

    ASP Martha Banda, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Plateau Command of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) made this known in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    According to Banda, the graduation which took place on Monday, was part ofthe command’s 2019 Prison Journey Programme aimed at strengthening the spiritual lives of the inmates with a view of reuniting them with God.

    The PRO said that the graduands consisted of 46 males and two females who participated in the 12-week programme.

    Banda quoted Pastor Elijah Ojewande, PFN coordinator in Plateau, as saying that over 1,633 prisoners in Nigeria had graduated from the programme since its inception in 2004.

    She said Ojewande enjoined the graduating prisoners to abide by what they learned from the programme and be good ambassadors of the fellowship.

    The PRO said Mr. Samuel Aguda, NPS commander in Plateau congratulated the graduands and admonished them to hold on to the tenets of the fellowship.

    NAN

  • Inmate gives birth to twins in Calabar Prison

    A female inmate of the Afokang prison, Calabar (name withheld), has given birth to twins, a boy and girl, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong, told NAN on Saturday in Calabar that the lady gave birth to the twins on Thursday at the Prison yard in Calabar.

    The commissioner said she received a distress call from the prison authorities about an inmate with complicated labour issues.

    She disclosed that her team immediately swung into action to provide health services to the inmate.

    “The Cross River Government has taken responsibility for a set of twins delivered by a female inmate of the Calabar Prisons.

    “The lady was delivered of a set of twins, a boy and a girl, and unfortunately developed some postpartum morbidity and had to be referred for expert management.

    READ ALSO: Prison inmates excel in WAEC exams- NPS

    “The state government had taken over management of the babies and already christened them Benedict and Linda Ayade

    “While awaiting full recovery of the mother. This also highlights the magnanimity of the governor in ensuring no child goes to bed hungry,” she said.

    She told said the prison authority commended the State Government for the swift response in arresting the situation following her critical condition.

    When NAN correspondent visited the prisons, the authority could not disclose the identity of the lady, saying it was classified as she was still an inmate.

    An officer who pleaded anonymity, said the lady was currently receiving treatment in a medical facility in Calabar.

    When asked when the lady was admitted into the prison, the officer said: “That is a classified information and I can’t give answer to that please.”

  • Prison inmates excel in WAEC exams- NPS

    The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) says no fewer than 157 prison inmates across the country have embraced formal education.

    Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, Controller-General of the service, disclosed this at the De-radicalisation workshop organised for senior officers of the service on Monday in Abuja.

    He said that many of the inmates, who sat for the Western African Examination Council (WAEC) examination passed with impressive grades.

    Ahmed was represented by Mrs Husseina Kori, Deputy Controller-General in charge of Health and Social welfare at the service.

    The prison boss said that three of the 157 inmates were currently undergoing undergraduate admission process at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the de-radicalisation programme was funded by the European Union (EU).

    He said that the inmates who acquired formal education were extremists, adding that the service had recorded a significant breakthrough in changing their mindset.

    “It is commonplace to say that violent extremism poses serious threat to social cohesion and economic development of a nation.

    “This programme, which started a few years ago, has successfully navigated the teething challenges usually associated with novel projects particularly when it involves rehabilitating extreme deviants, ‘he said.

    Read Also: 24 inmates to write UTME at Ikoyi prisons

    Ahmed said that the service had assumed the tedious task of leading the de-radicalisation programme considering its mandate of Reforming, Rehabilitating and Reintegrating deviants into the society.

    He said the programme had turned out to be a great window of hope in the midst of devastating circumstances ensuring that violent extreme offenders desist from their unpatriotic activities.

    Ahmed said that the Federal Government in its commitment to protect lives and property of citizens had deployed numerous strategies to tame the scourge.

    “Although the crisis is not over, it is gladdening to see steady progress, especially in de-radicalising violent extremists.”

    Ahmed reiterated the service`s commitment to uphold the confidence reposed on the service by the federal government to spearhead this great initiative.

  • Prison inmates decries dumping of children in orphanages

    Inmates serving jail terms in various prisons in Anambra State have been cautioned against dumping of their children in orphanages in the State.

    A non-governmental organisation, Greater Awka Allies who gave the warning during a visit by its members to various orphanage in the state capital, said it was wrong to ‘imprison’ children in orphanages because their parents were to serve jail terms.

    Speaking to newsmen in Awka, Coordinator of the group, Mr Chinemerem Oguegbe, insisted that such children should rather be handed over to their close relations or be enrolled in regular schools.

    He said, “We have discovered that a greater number of children in orphanage homes are children of prison inmates, who come here to dump them to go and serve their prison terms.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Don’t panic, Gaidam tell communities

    “This should not be so. A parent who is going to serve prison term should drop his or her children with relatives who will give them better care, than exposing them by bringing and dumping them here.

    “Government has to do something about this. Children of convicts should be handed over to their uncles or relations. Keeping them here is not healthy for them.

    “There is no reason these children should not be given basic education which is nearly free in Anambra.”

    Oguegbe charged the children to be of good behaviour, pray constantly and make the most of every opportunity and experience they had.

    He pledged the organization’s readiness to ensure that children in orphanages in the State have access to quality health care as well as healthy environment through the provision of basic infrastructures in government-owned homes.

    Also speaking, a Consultant Dermatologist with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Dr. Chibuzo Okpala, promised to assemble team of medical doctors who would frequently visit the orphanages to provide basic health care to the children.

  • Release of prison inmates: two NGOs provide transportation

    Two Non-Governmental Or-ganisations (NGOs), the Prisoners Rights Advocacy Initiatives   (PRAI) and Knights of St. Mulumba, have facilitated the movements of 16 inmates who were granted freedom by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, in three federal prisons in the state.

    PRAI with the support of Citizen Gavel provided  in addition, barbing equipment and accessories to an inmate who learnt barbing in prison.

    According to PRAI Executive Director, Ahmed Adetola Kazeem, “We shall be providing job and educational support for the awaiting trial inmates released by the Chief Judge  as well as convicts who have been released or due to be released this December”, .

    He said: “We thank our donors, the Prison Service , the Judiciary and most importantly our volunteers for making this experience worthwhile. We also appreciate the Chief Judge for her efforts, but express disappointment on the number of inmates released compared to the total number of awaiting trial in  persons’’.

    He however expressed optimism that the next phase of release will be better.

    He also said that PRAI will strive to ensure that the inmates stay out of prison through positive engagements and job support for them.

    It would be recalled that  PRAI had asked for a review of the criteria for release in its letter dated  November 1, 2018 and some of the suggestions were taken into consideration by the the  Chief Judge.

    Sir Edwin Okolie, who also spoke on the occasion, commended Justice Oke for the freedom granted the 16 inmates,

    He urged the chief judge to make prison visit a quarterly affair to quicken prison decongestion especially those unlawfully incarcerated by the Police and the state’s task force.

     

  • Prison inmates regain freedom

    Four inmates serving jail terms in Abakaliki Prison, Ebonyi State, yesterday regained freedom.

    This followed the payment of their fines by the National President of Prison Officers Wives Association (PROWA) and wife of the Controller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Hajia Gwamma Ja’afaru.

    She made the payments on behalf of the association after inaugurating PROWA Acquisition Centre built by the association in Abakaliki.

    PROWA also empowered four inmates, who have finished serving their jail terms, by giving them equipment to start business.  The governor’s wife, Mrs. Rachael Umahi, donated food items to the inmates. They include bags of rice, beans, beverages, tubers of yam and others.

    The Controller of Prisons, Emelia Adaobi Oputa, said the command had recorded success since she assumed duty.

    She said during last year’s National Examinations Council (NECO) exam, 40 inmates sat for it.

  • 157 inmates set to write WASSCE, as two pursue PhD

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

    The Controller of Prisons, Lagos Command, Mr Tunde Ladipo disclosed this in an interview with our reporter, on Monday in Lagos.

    According to him, there is a renewed interest in education among the inmates across the various prisons in the state.

    He said that the progress and courage exhibited by the two PhD inmates at the maximum prison had sparked off 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 Masters degrees enrolled for their PhD in 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, and the Vice Chancellor of the NOUN who personally presented them with the letter approving their PhD courses said it is tuition free.

    “To us, this is ground breaking and very encouraging, as they have shown that they are not limited by the situation they find themselves. And that is part of the essence of our on-going reformation across the prisons.

    “As a result of this, the command is also witnessing an increase of enrollment of inmates into various categories of learning at the various prisons schools.

    “We are indeed happy with the establishment of the new NOUN centre at the Kirikiri Prison, with state-of-the art facilities such as ultra modern and well stocked library, computers and air conditioners,” Ladipo told our reporter.

    According to him, a total of 157 inmates across the prisons in the state have registered for the upcoming second series of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.

    Giving a breakdown of the statistics of the inmates from the various facilities, he said that 91 of the inmates were from the Ikoyi Prisons, 12 from the Female Prisons, 14 from from the Medium and 40 from the Maximum Prisons.

    Ladipo said that preparations were in top gear for the examination at the various facilities, to ensure that the inmates come out in flying colours.

    Read Also: 44 inmates get Oyo CJ’s pardon

    “I will like to commend the Federal government for its commitment in exposing the inmates to life-changing reforms that are ongoing currently in the prisons, through education and skills acquisition.

    “It is worthy to note that government, through the Controller General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed, recently donated books to facilities across the country for improved research, teaching and learning for the inmates.

    “This, coupled with the new facilitators we have engaged to complement the existing ones in facilities, will go a long way in improving the performance of the inmates during the WASSCE examination.

    “Aside intervention from the Federal government in preparing the inmates for the examination, a bank also presented cash donation as well as some fans, in an effort to upgrade the facilities for conducive teaching and learning,” he said.

    The state controller said that empowering the inmates with education would go a long way in restoring confidence in them, as well as make them less dependent persons, whenever they regained freedom.

  • JNI donates food items to prison inmates

    The Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Jigawa has donated food items and drinks to inmates in Madachi Medium Security Prison Hadejia, in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state.

    Its Secretary, Malam Muhammad Babangida, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse yesterday.

    Babangida said the gesture was part of the group’s assistance to inmates in the spirit of Ramadan fasting.

    “This is not the only facility that benefitted from the gesture, many prisons in the state benefited since the commencement of Ramadan fasting.

    He added that the gesture was part of the JNI’s efforts in complementing the Federal and State government’s effort in providing services to the inmates.

    “The JNI feels it should contribute its quota to the wellbeing of the prison inmates in the state, particularly during this Ramadan fasting,” the secretary said.

    The scribe urged wealthy individuals, corporate bodies and organisations to assist the inmates and other less privileged in the society.

    According to him, such gesture will go a long way to enable the inmates improve and make themselves better citizens.