The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prison

  • 78 inmates graduate from Ikoyi Prison

    The Lagos chapter of the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has graduated 78 students of its prisoner’s journey course at the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.

    Coordinator of the course, Femi Famoyide congratulated the students, wishing them a smooth journey in life after their release. He said the programmed was centered on the life of Jesus. On whether they had imbibed the rudiments of the course, the inmates said the lessons learnt from the course have made them new creatures and had certainly changed their world view.

    The PFN Chairman, Bola J. Olawepo said: “We rejoice with you because this is the first section. I want you to take those things you have learnt into your life. After the programme, if you live your life the way you were, then it is a waste. Whether in the dormitory or in the church, the course must reflect in the attitude you portray. If you were fighting before and you still go back to fight, that means you have not been transformed.’’

     

  • Ojuelegba tragedy: Truck owner remanded in prison

    Ojuelegba tragedy: Truck owner remanded in prison

    An Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded Adeyanju Kilani, the owner of the articulated vehicle which fell of the bridge on Sept. 2, in prison custody.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the articulated vehicle carrying a 20ft container fell of the bridge and killed three people at Ojuelegba, Lagos.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Folashade Botoku, gave the ordered in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Kilani, 50, was arraigned on a two-count charge of permitting his driver, one Wasiu Adeleke to drive without a valid driver’s licence, MOT test and Road worthiness certificate.

    Prosecutor G.O. Osuyi said that the offences were committed on Sept. 2, on Ojuelegba Bridge along Funsho Williams Avenue, Lagos.

    Adeleke, driver of the articulated vehicle, was arraigned before the same court on Sept. 11, on an eleven-count charge of reckless driving negligent manner, and causing the death of three motorists.

    “Adeleke, drove a Diesel truck with Reg. No. Lagos EPE 46 XK carrying a 20 feet container loaded with iron doors and white cement in a negligent manner.

    [ad id=”403656″]“In view of his alleged reckless driving, the container fell, causing the deaths of one Abubakar Sule, 52, Umaru Sulaiman, 46 and Kamilu Umaru, 28.

    “The truck also damaged a Toyota Corolla with Reg. No. LSD 532 CN, valued at two million naira belonging to Sumaila Marksman and a Nissan Sunny, Reg. No. DG 750 LND, valued at N600,000, belonging to one Joseph Ajayi,’’ he said.

    The offences, Osuyi noted, contravened Sections 31 and 36 (1 and 2) of the Lagos state Road Traffic Law 2012.

    Kilani, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Botoku, ordered that Kilani be remanded in prison custody pending when she would deliver ruling on his bail application.

    The Counsel to the accused, W.O. Toriola, had requested the court to grant the accused bail based on self-recognition being a senior citizen of the country with no prior criminal record.

    Osuyi, however did not oppose the application for bail.

    The case was, thereafter, adjourned till Sept. 23, for ruling on the bail application.

  • Man jailed for abducting three-year-old boy

    Man jailed for abducting three-year-old boy

    A Minna Magistrates’ Court, on Wednesday sentenced one Kabiru Salisu to six months imprisonment for abducting a 3-year-old boy.

    Magistrate Amina Musa said that abduction was a serious crime and one that would have brought agony to the child’s parents.

    Musa, however, said the convict has shown remorse and sentenced him to six months imprisonment without an option of fine

    The convict was arraigned on a 2-count charge of trespass and abduction of a 3-year- old boy.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Alfred Auta, had told the court that one Baba Abubakar, reported the matter at Agaie Police Station on May 16.

    Auta alleged that on the same day at about 2:30 a.m., the convict trespassed into Abubakar’s compound and abducted the child.

    He said the accused was later apprehended by the police and the child rescued.‎

    Salisu pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.

     

  • OPC seeks release of leader from Ekiti prison

    The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ekiti State has appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose to ensure the release of its chairman Adeniyi Adedipe from prison custody.

    Adedipe is on remand for alleged complicity in the murder of former state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye, on September 25, last year.

    The OPC chief and six others appeared at an Ado-Ekiti High Court last Thursday, but the case was adjourned to September 28 and 29 by the trial judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, for definite hearing.

    But the group insisted that Adedipe had no hand in Aderiye’s killing, describing the duo as “brothers and business partners with long years of close bond”.

    Making the appeal at the weekend at a briefing, an OPC executive member in the state, Segun Egunlusi, urged Fayose to reconsider Adedipe’s case because his remand was “political”.

    He noted that Adedipe had used his office to collaborate with successive administrations and security agencies to fight crime and would never be involved in any criminal act.

    Egunlusi expressed sadness that Adedipe’s remand in prison custody prevented him from participating in the funeral rites of his late father.

  • Corps members visit Ondo Prison

    Olokuta Prison Yard in Ondo State hosted Corps members in Akure South Local Government on their community development service. The visiting youths, under the aegis of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences and National Anti-Corruption Volunteers Corps, were led by Alex Ojekunle, their president.

    The purpose of the visit was to identify with inmates of the prison and sensitise them on corruption, its implications on the nation’s wellbeing and how to stop it.

    Alex told the inmates that corruption was the cause of the bad state of the nation, saying it was also responsible for subversion of justice system. He said respect for human rights and equality before the law remained hallmarks corruption-free society.

    The Corps members were received and conducted round the facility by a Deputy Controller of Prison, who said the society had abandoned the inmates.

    The Corps members divided themselves into groups and interacted with the inmates on social, economic, and political issues. Some of them were moved to tears as the inmates lamented how corruption was affecting their wellbeing in the prison.

    “We are at the receiving end of corruption in the society. Life is hard for us here, because about 180 of us occupy a cell room originally built for 30 inmates,” one of them said.

    “Help us pass this message to our government officials, judiciary and legislature that we want a viable ad independent judicial system because some of us are suffering the slowness of our judicial process,” an inmate awaiting trial said.

    Blessing Oko, a Batch “A” Corps member, told the inmates to be prayerful and assured them that they are useful to the society.

     

  • Court summons prison boss for refusing to produce ex-Mint chief, Okoyomon

    Court summons prison boss for refusing to produce ex-Mint chief, Okoyomon

    A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, has summoned the Deputy Comptroller of Prison, Kuje, Abuja, for refusing to produce detained former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Emmanuel Okoyomon  in court.

    Justice Valentine Ashi had, by an order in relation to a motion by Okoyomon, ordered the defendants in a suit he (Okoyomo) initiated – Deputy Comptroller in Charge of Medium Security Prison, Kuje and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) – to produce him in court and show cause why he should not be granted bail.

    Yesterday, rather than obey the court’s order, the Deputy Comptroller of Medium Security Prison, Kuje wrote directly to the judge, informing him that Okoyomon was being held in Kuje prison by virtue of a remand order by the Court of Appeal.

    The prison officer insisted that Okoyomon could only be produced in any court with the permission of the court that ordered his remand, a position that infuriated Justice Ashi, who described the prison official’s conduct as a contempt of court and disobedience to a valid court order.

    “The procedure adopted by the 1st respondent (Deputy Comptroller in Charge of Medium Security Prison, Kuje) is reprehensible and contemptuous of the court,” the judge said. He added that the decision by the prison officer to write directly to him (the judge) was disrespectful of the institution of the court.

    The judge consequently ordered the prison official to attend court on the next adjourned date to show cause why he should not be imprisoned for contempt of court. Lawyer to the AGF, Muslim Hassan however, apologised on behalf of the prison official and assured that the defendants held the court in high esteem.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on May 4 this year, granted Okoyomon’s extradition to the United Kingdom where he was accused of complicity in the bribery allegation involving officials of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN NSPM and Securency International Pty of Australia between 2006 and 2008.

    Okoyomon appealed the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. He applied to the court for bail and stay of execution of the decision by Justice Chukwu. But, in its ruling on June 26, the appellate court rejected his (Okoyomon’s) application for bail on the ground that it was unmeritorious.

    The appellate court however granted Okoyomon’s request for stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja directing the Federal Government to proceed with his extradition.

    Rather than pursue his pending appeal, Okoyomon went before the FCT High Court with a fresh suit, challenging his continued detention.

    The Office of the Attorney General has faulted his new suit and accused him of misleading Justice Ashi into assuming jurisdiction on the case. In the counter-affidavit and notice of preliminary objection filed for the AGF, it was argued that Okoyomon, having been detained on the order of the Court of Appeal, ought to either proceed to the Supreme Court or pursue his pending appeal. It urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction to hear it.

    Justice Ashi has adjourned to August 12 to hear the objection filed by the AGF and for the prison official to attend court and show cause why he should not be imprisoned for contempt.

  • DMX SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IN PRISON

    DMX SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IN PRISON

    ACE international rapper, DMX, has finally been thrown behind bars. According to reports, this will be his first since 2011 when he was locked up for seven months in Arizona.  The rapper was reportedly jailed in Buffalo, New York on Wednesday, July 15 for failing to comply with a family court ruling.

    DMX has a history of issues with child support with one of his baby mamas who lives in the area, and the law finally caught up with him, TMZ reports. He was unable to perform for fans at Radio City Music Hall concert play.

    The rapper has been sentenced to six months imprisonment at the Erie County Holding Center.  Although the ex Ruff Riders boss has recurrently been arrested for different kinds of violations.

    Back in June, the American rap star was arrested for nonpayment of child support just before getting on stage for his Radio City Music Hall concert. His ex-wife lodged a complaint of his refusal to pay for his children support.

    Then on June 25, a New York judge ordered the rapper’s ex wife, Tashera Simmons and their kids to vacate their New York home after a bank claimed they owed over $258,927 in back payments; adding they hadn’t paid a penny on the home since 2008.

  • Medical students visit prison

    Medical students visit prison

    The Oko Prison at Oko Ogba Road in Benin City, Edo State capital, was a beehive last Saturday when members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Igbinedion University in Okada (IUO) visited the inmate.

    The students, numbering over 70, left from their campuses on an outreach to the facility. On their arrival, they were conducted round the facility by a warder, who enlightened them on the rules guiding prison yard. After the excursion, they students met with the prison inmates.

    Harry Ogodo, the association’s Mission Secretary, said the visit was part of the students’ mission to reach out to the needy. He urged the inmates not to feel condemned because of their predicament, urging them to make good use of their stay and apply lessons they learn whenever they gain freedom.

    “Being free is a thing of the mind and not necessarily means being out of prison,” Harry said.

    In his exhortation titled: Free at last, Aisosa Guobadia, a 600-Level student, told the inmate to build personal relationship with God for them to have divine mercy in hereafter. He used the story of Joseph in the Bible, who went to prison for an offence he did not commit, noting that God has better plans for the inmates.

    Some of the prisoners got born again during the encounter with the students, promising never to sin again.

    The visit also featured dental and health talk, where the students advised the inmate to wash their teeth daily and keep their environment neat to reduce the tendency disease outbreak. The students donated toiletries, wears, sanitary pad and food stuff to the inmates.

    The prison Director of Welfare Services, Mr J.I. Osemwengie hailed the students for the visit. He encouraged them to be focus and law-abiding.

    Obehi Eseaton, 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, said the visit was more than an outreach but a life excursion. “It is good to be obedient. It is my prayers that God bring the inmates out of the prison soon,” he said.

     

  • Court remands two for importing N10bn expired drugs

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered one Kennedy Okereke, alias Agama, to be remanded in prison for allegedly importing into the country 49 different brands of fake drugs and product estimated at N10bn.

    Okereke was remanded alongside one Uchendu Oledibe, his accomplice, with whom he allegedly committed the offence on March 2, 2015.

    According to the charges filed against them, the accused operated at five different bases in Lagos, from where they allegedly labelled and circulated the counterfeit and expired drugs to innocent or unsuspecting members of the general public.

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control listed the bases as Mosco Shonubi Close, Shangisha; Okunowo Street, Ikosi, Ketu; Bello Street, Ikosi, Ketu; Iddo Terminus; and Consolidated Warehouse, Oyingbo, Lagos State.

    Okereke and Oledibe were, on Friday, arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yunusa on 12 counts bordering on importation, labelling and circulation of counterfeit and expired drugs to the public.

    The NAFDAC prosecutor, Mr. Umar Shamaki, said the offence contravened, among other laws of the land, Section 1 (a) of the Counterfeit, Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    He added that the two accused were liable to be punished under Section 3 (1) (a) of the same Act.

    But when the charges were read to them, Okereke and Oledibe pleaded not guilty.

    The agency, however, listed among various other counterfeited proprietary brands of drugs allegedly imported and labelled by the accused persons, Tarivid 200mg tablet; Augmentin 625mg tablet; Proviron tablet; Novasc 10mg tablet; Glucophage 500mg tablet; Cotecxin tablet; Rectin – A Cream; Regroton tablet; Clomid tablet; Loratyn-10 tablet and Cytotec-200mg tablet.

    Also listed were Lexotan tablet, Tegretol tablet, Nizoral 200mg tablet; Analgin injection; Vitalas Tetanus injection; Viagra 100mg tablet among several others.

    Shamaki, alleged that the accused loaded the products into a container measuring over 20 by 40 feet in dimension.

    Following their arraignment, the prosecutor said, “My Lord, in view of the not guilty plea of the accused, may I humbly ask for a day for trial. But before then, My Lord, may I ask the court for an order remanding the accused persons in prison custody pending trial.”

    But the defence counsel, Mr. Michael Imonah, urged the court to turn down the prosecution’s prayer to remand his clients, saying he had already filed bail applications and served on the prosecutor.

    Imonah said, “My Lord, we would not be opposing the prayer for a date for trial but with due respect, we have filed an application in respect of their bail and the application is dated March 27, 2015.

    “In respect of the first accused person, we have served the prosecuting counsel and I wish to plead with your Lordship to move the application.”

    Shamaki, however, said he was only served with the bail application on Friday morning in court, adding that he was opposed to it and would require time to file appropriate response.

    “We are opposed to the application. We have just been served and I intend to reply and I need time to do this. We are asking for a date within which to react because these are issues of law, which would need to be controverted,” Shamaki said.

    Yunusa consequently ordered the prison remand of the accused persons and adjourned till April 1, 2015 to entertain their applications for bail.

  • Degrees in prison

    • NOUN results of four inmates encouraging but there is room for improvement

    Unlikely news from the Nigerian Prisons Service shows that the country’s much-criticised prison system is not without redeeming features and not beyond redemption. The controller-general of the organisation, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, highlighted remarkable positives at a workshop on Prisons Welfare Insurance Scheme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to him, “Four inmates of the Nigerian Prisons Service have graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), with three obtaining 2.1, while the other obtained 2.2.”

    Noteworthy among these caged academic stars is Theophilus Adeniyi, an inmate awaiting trial who made a second class upper degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at the NOUN Enugu Prison study centre. He received three awards for excellence, including N50, 000 cash prize as the best student. Indeed, it is a reflection of the possibilities, even behind bars, that Adeniyi was able to continue his education and take it to a logical conclusion. He was reportedly a final-year political science student at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) before his arrest in connection with a communal crisis.

    It is important to observe that the academic achievements of these inmates may have as much to do with their personal ambition and commitment to success as with an atmosphere conducive to learning. Significantly, Ekpendu was quoted as saying to other inmates during the convocation: “I heard a number of you registered for Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. We shall do our best to ensure that you are comfortable to the best of our ability.”

    The striking picture of academic accomplishments in prison is worthy of focus because it underscores the reformatory essence of imprisonment. More and more, the modern-day jail is envisioned as a place of possible reformation and reconstruction, and it is reassuring that this concept is appreciated and captured by the prisons chief. Ekpendu said: “There are six directorates in the Prisons Service, with one dedicated to the training of inmates in skill acquisition and productivity. One of the cardinal objectives for which prison is set up is to train inmates for worthwhile careers after their terms.”

    Against this background, it makes sense that the vision of improvement is not restricted to the academic activities of inmates, but accommodates their practical involvement in similarly useful areas such as farming, carpentry and tailoring, among others. This range of opportunities for personal development can always be expanded by the prison authorities for the benefit of inmates. It must be emphasised that at the end of the day, encouraging inmates to be better people not only morally but also vocationally is in the best interest of the society.

    To be realistic, coping with post-prison stigma will always be a predictable challenge for inmates; and the role and value of learning and training for life outside jail cannot be over-emphasised. In this connection, it is reasonable to consider parole possibilities for inmates who demonstrate a capacity for change based on academic attainments within the prison walls or other positive criteria.

    Certainly, the narratives of the new graduate inmates make a striking statement about the possible usefulness of adversity. However, the remarkable success stories should not make the authorities blind to the urgent need to re-imagine and restructure the country’s prison system. The problems of overcrowding, poor feeding, inadequate medical facilities, and generally rotten infrastructure, to mention a few, continue to discredit the prison system and deserve to be addressed with greater seriousness.

    The truth is that celebrating academic efforts and brilliance in the country’s prisons cannot obscure the bigger reality of the unacceptably primitive conditions inmates face during their terms.