The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prison

  • How Director defrauded company of N45bn – MD

    How Director defrauded company of N45bn – MD

    The Managing Director of an outdoor advertising firm — Afromedia Plc., Mr Akinola Olopade, on Wednesday told an Ikeja High Court how one of the company’s directors defrauded it of N45 billion in a business transaction.

    Olopade made the disclosure at the ongoing trial of Alhaji Mohammed Gobir for a 17-count charge of stealing, forgery and obtaining money by false pretences slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Gobir, however, denied the charges.

    While being led in evidence by Mrs Zainab Etu, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Olopade said:“My Lord, after about three years of promises, it was discovered that the promises were a bunch of lies.

    “At the Afromedia Board meeting held on Dec. 20, 2013, he promised that we will be in London for Christmas and the monies will be released.

    “It was all a lie, his phone was switched off and I later got to know that he had traveled to Dubai.

    “When I later found out that he had returned to Lagos, I visited him and I decided to start recording all our conversations as I needed evidence of his deceit and I did not want to confront him with the conversations I had in my memory.”

    NAN reports that the audio recording of Gobir evading questions from Olopade regarding the funds was played in the courtroom.

    The conversations between the men were in English and Yoruba languages and Gobir could be heard telling Olopade that the 250 million dollars (about N45 billion) at N160 to a dollar in 2013.

    In a February 11, 2013, audio recording, Gobir could be heard saying “the 250 million dollars is in town, we are trying to clear it with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “The CBN needed papers to clear the money and we are trying to clear it as the CBN has sent me an alert.”

    “Gobir said on Feb. 15, 2013, monies were to be released from the N45 billion allegedly transferred to him from the CBN.

    “The dollar rate at the time was N160 to a dollar, all these stories changed till March of that year and until now I do not know what happened to the money as he has been coming up with different stories,” he said.

    According to the EFCC, Gobir defrauded the company through a phoney investment deal he allegedly introduced to Afromedia Plc through their private placement consultants — Synergy Energy Advisory Ltd — as a high net worth investor willing to inject N1 billion into the company.

    He was allegedly appointed as the Head of Business Development Committee in the Board of Directors of the company, a position of trust in which he allegedly used to defraud the company.

    Gobir allegedly demanded huge sums of money including the  250 million dollars from the company as business expenses for a United Kingdom-based Investment consultants — the Royal Exchange Bureau — in order to secure investments from a bank in UK.

    The investment deal was never secured and Gobir also failed to refund the monies to Afromedia Plc.

    Justice Raliatu Adebiyi adjourned the case until April 7 and April 10 for the continuation of trial.

  • Mortuary attendant remanded in prison

    Mortuary attendant remanded in prison

    A 57-year old mortuary attendant, Muritala Raimi, has been remanded in Agodi, Ibadan prison for allegedly stealing a human skull from the mortuary of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court remanded Raimi after he failed to meet his bail conditions.

    The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and misconduct.

    Though the court granted him bail of N200,000 and two sureties, he could not meet his bail conditions.

    He was arrested after allegedly decapitating the remains of an unknown deceased.

    Raimi, it was learnt, concealed the head in a bag but was caught on his way out.

    He allegedly tried to escape but was arrested by the police.

    The accused was taken to Yemetu Police Station.

    When he appeared before Magistrate Akanni Monsurat in Court 4, Raimi pleaded “not guilty”.

    Hearing was adjourned till May 15.

     

  • Court remands two for robbery in Ibadan

    An Oyo State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday remanded two men, Uba Opara, 35; and Tunde Adepoju, 27; in prison for alleged armed robbery.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Durosaro – Tijani, said the accused should be remanded in Agodi Prisons and the case file sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

    Durosaro-Tijani adjourned the case till May 22.

    The accused, whose addresses were not given, are facing a two -count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Adewale Amos, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large on Jan.  14, at about 2 .p.m.  at Taye Soyege Street, New Bodija, Ibadan.

    Amos said the accused, who were armed with a double barrel gun and a cutlass, robbed one Jekayinfa Olayinka of his Toyota Camry car valued at N11.5 million.

    “They were, however caught by some policemen on duty,’’ he added.

    The offences, he said,  contravened Sections  1 (1) (2) (a) and 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap RII,Vol. 14,  Laws of the Republic of Nigeria,  2004.

     

  • Benin Catholic Diocese lifts prison

    The Edo Command of the Nigerian Prisons  Service on Wednesday confirmed the receipt of  a generator and training items from the Catholic Archbishop of  Benin  Diocese,  Augustine Akubueze..

    The  command’s  Public Relations Officer, Mr Aminu Suleman, told  the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin that  Akubueze  made the donation on behalf of the diocese.

    He  said the donation  followed the request of the state Controller of Prison , Mr Amadin Osayande, requesting  for partnership with the diocese.

    Suleman  listed the items  donated to include  a  generating set, a set of HP desktop computer and IT camera  and a  Desktop Colour Printer.

    Others were   vehicle tyres, four industrial standing fans, a butterfly sewing machine  an office file cabinet and cash.

    ” The donation is in response to a request made to the Catholic Archbishop for his support in improving and enhancing the operational duties of the command.

    ” Part of the partnership request includes the training of inmates as well as  reformation and rehabilitation,” he said.

    The items, he added,  would enhance  effective service delivery in   the command.

    “These  items will also reduce the hardship faced due to poor power supply as well as facilitate the training of the inmates in skills acquisition,  especially in the area of tailoring,’’ he said.

    He called on the state government, NGOs and wealthy individuals to emulate the  gesture of the archbishop.

    `The Nigerian Prisons Service cannot achieve these alone without external support of well meaning Nigerians.

    ” We seek support for  the prisons service in its onerous task of humane and safe custody, inmates reformation as well as  rehabilitation and reintegration into the society,’’ he  said.

  • Court remands teenager in prison for ‘robbery’

    An Asaba Magistrates’ Court in Delta State has ordered the remand of a teenager (name withheld) at the Ogwashi-Uku Prison for alleged robbery.

    The accused is facing one-count charge of robbery.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Okonkwo Aknume, who gave the order, adjourned the case till February 27.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Ali Samson, told the court the accused allegedly committed the offence on December 5 at Agbagana Street, Jarret, Asaba.

    He said the accused allegedly robbed Mr. Chibiuke Nnwite of his Techno phone, wallet and N34,000 while armed with an iron rod.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 6(b) and 2(a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 Vol 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

    The plea of the accused was not taken.

  • Alleged fraud: Filmmaker Egbegbe to remain in prison

    Alleged fraud: Filmmaker Egbegbe to remain in prison

    A filmmaker, Seun Egbegbe, is to remain in prison till Tuesday when the Federal High Court in Lagos will hear his bail application.

    The Police Special Fraud Unit last Friday arraigned Egbegbe (also known as Olajide Kazeem), for alleged serial fraud involving N39, 098,100, $90,000 and £12,550.

    He was arraigned on 36 counts with Oyekan Ayomide, with whom he allegedly conspired to perpetrate the fraud between 2015 and last February 2. They were accused of defrauding Bureau De Change (BDC) operators.

    Defence counsel Miss. A. O. Gbadamoshi said she completed the process of filing the bail applications on Tuesday.

    Police prosecutor Innocent Anyigor said he was unable to file a counter affidavit to the applications as he was served yesterday, adding that he needed time to respond.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo ordered that the defendants remain in prison until their bail applications are heard on Tuesday.

    The defendants allegedly defrauded no fewer than 30 BDC operators in Lagos between 2015 and February , mostly by falsely representing to the victims that they had foreign currencies to sell.

    The police alleged that for instance on February 2, Egbegbe and Ayomide fraudulently obtained N2.45m and £,3,000 from Alhaji Isa Adamu in Lagos under the guise that they wanted to see the naira and buy the pounds.

    Their other victims are Mohammed Sanni, who was allegedly defrauded of N2.46million on New Year’s day; Jubrila Ado, allegedly defrauded of N1.257million last September 9, Hassan Amodu, allegedly defrauded of N600,000 in January 2016; Sanni Hassan, allegedly defrauded of N1.43 and £2,750 in August 2015; Saidi Abdullahi, allegedly defrauded of N700,000 on April 18, 2016; Atairu Abdullaahi, allegedly defrauded of N1million on June 23, 2016; and Abdullahi Babadisa, allegdly defrauded of N650,000 in January 2016.

    Others are Abdurawan Hassan who allegedly lost N1.46million to Egbegbe last January 1, Suraju Garuba, who lost N850,000 in July 2016; Abdullahi Mumini, who lost N2.15m in September 2016; Garuba Hassan, who lost N700,000 on January 10, 2016 and Sanni Mohammed, who lost N1.89million last January 29.

    Also allegedly swindled are Barowo Abdullahi, who lost N2.6million; Yahu Alidu, who lost N1.75million; Tairu Musa, who lost N2milliom; Mohammed Bello, who lost $300; Mohammed Usman, N450,500; Suleiman Shehu, who lost N1.276million; Ahmadu Abda, who lost N2million; Nairu Musa, who lost N1.007million; Sanni Mohammed, who lost N1.6million and $3,000.

    Others are Umaru Haruna, who lost N1.7million; Abubakar Musa, who lost $4,000; Abdulrasaq Sanni, who lost N1.7million; Abdullahi Babatunde, who lost N2.77million; among others.

    The police said the offence contravened Section 8 of the Addvance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006. The accused are liable to be punished under Section 1(3) of the law.

    Egbegbe and Ayomide pleaded not guilty.

    Their trial will begin on March 10.

  • A thought for prison inmates

    SIR: Naturally, we have sufficient number of Nigerians speaking out on the poor state of infrastructure, unemployment, inflation, corruption among others. Few are concerned about the state of our prison and welfare of prison inmates in the country. Prison is an institution created by the law to provide rehabilitation and correctional facility for those who violated the law as a punitive measure. Considering this, one is compelled to ask how the society perceive prison experience and how ex-convicts are integrated  back into the society?

    There have been instances where ex-convicts came out to become better citizens, while majority of others further consolidate on criminal acts that previously sent them into prison.  In many instances, society seems to further compound the plight of ex-convicts by their stigmatization. Hardly will anyone want to associate with them after release, thus making their re-integration a mirage. It is bad enough that society avoids them like plague, but worse still that their immediate and extended families become laughting stocks in their immediate environment.

    In terms of rehabilitation, Nigeria’s prison looks like a bad solution. Over the years, the welfare of prison inmates in Nigeria have deteriorated as many such prisons do not meet the minimum standard of treatment that should be given to prisoners.  Other rights violated include absence of minimum feeding, allocation of accommodation, medical facility and other needed provisions or logistics.  Until Lagos State among few other states of the federation donated brand new Toyota Coaster buses to convey prison inmates awaiting trial, oven or heat entrapped Black maria lorries were fashionable means of moving inmates around.

    Many prisons are seen to be over-congested with attendant facility decay, thus jeorpadising the life of inmates. In recent time, many incidents of jail break have been traced to the poor minimum welfare conditions of inmates. In Gombe State, it was reported that about 669 inmates are to be treated for scabies – a disease associated with over-crowdiness.

    Against the goal of the Nigeria prison services which is the reformation and safety of legally sentenced inmate, the prison has added responsibility to train inmates in trades or vocations for their benefits and that of society during confinement. Many of the prisons that are supposed to accommodate about 300 inmates have about 750 occupants. In present day Nigeria where latrines are being phased out, it is disgusting that bucket latrines which constitute serious health hazard are in use in some of Nigeria prisons, while little or no medical facilities are on ground for inmates. Funds and welfare packages also meant for inmates are often allegedly diverted for other purposes. Thus, inmates are often malnourished without bedding spaces for most of them.

    In as much as the prison should not be a palace for inmates, it should equally not be a place where inmates should experience hell on earth. It is, therefore, important that the prison institution in Nigeria is urgently reformed. In this regards, there is need for authorities concerned to make available educational/vocational facilities and other such that could readily support the needs of inmates. The earlier this is done, the better for the society.

     

    • Bolaji Odumade,

    Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Abuja hosts Prison officers

    The Controller- General (CG), Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) Ja’afaru Ahmed said all necessary measures have been put in place to avert future jailbreak.

    Ahmed disclosed this at a two-day seminar for command officers organised by the NPS in collaboration with Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).

    He said more staff are needed to further enhance productivity within the prison formation.

    The prison boss warned officers and men of the service to be disciplined and be diligent in their work or be punished according to the law.

    He also warned command officers of the Service to build a cordial relationship with the media if they must succeed in their assignments.

    He said, “We work under very challenging conditions but I am happy that the environment has started changing through the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and I hope it continues but for us to archive  more we [need more] staff, we do not have enough staff.

    “What we did as an interim measure to curb incessant jailbreaks was to collapse the shifts from three to two and that has helped.

    “Under my leadership we take discipline very important and while we ensure that the staff welfare is ensured we also do not tolerate indolence and anybody that is involved in that will be dealt with according to the law. That has helped officers to reposition and redouble efforts.

    “I am assuring you that with the measures we have put in place there will be no jailbreak.

    “Beyond working hard to meet the high demands of our core mandate which is primarily providing safe and humane custody, as well as behavioral change among offenders committed to our care, we also have a duty to actively engage the media as critical stakeholders in the discharge of our statutory responsibilities.”

    Ahmed, who stressed that the intricacies of managing narratives reaching the public were issues not to be handled loosely, expressed optimism that the officers would have improved their skills in managing media issues at the end of the seminar.

    A retired Major General of the Nigerian Army and former Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade at the event said the military has assist NPS in terms of security.

    Olukolade said: “The military is helping NPS by inter-service cooperation where necessary. All along we have always had meetings at the level of forum of security agencies. Further to that there are occasional meetings where we exchange notes.”

    The Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd) said it was pertinent to continue building the capacity of command officers to be able to effectively engage the media.

    His words: “This is important because every officer in the state command must understand the need to at all times, utilise the instrumentality of the media to up-build and uphold the good image of the service…”

     

  • Ex-convict re-arrested after release from prison

    Ex-convict re-arrested after release from prison

    •Suspect caught vandalising Toyota cars

    Six weeks after his release from prison, a 33-year-old ex-convict Oluwasegun Oladimeji, has been rearrested by  Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives.

    He was arrested for allegedly vandalising Toyota cars on Victoria Island.

    According to the RRS, he said he was released from prison last November after a three-month term for removing Toyota parts from a garage in Apapa in July.

    The RRS said he named a spare parts dealer in Ladipo International Market as the one who gave him the specifications of cars to vandalise.

    The suspect was said to have vandalised some vehicles around Lekki before he was arrested on Victoria Island.

    Some Toyota Corolla parts and mobile phones, which he allegedly stole from the garage guards, who were sleeping when he broke in, were found on him.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “Oga Dona (auto parts dealer) gave me the type of vehicle parts that are on high demand in the market. I have been working for him now for eight years. I steal different vehicle parts, particularly, Toyota products. I remove Toyota Corolla brain box, headlight, rearlight, buttons, etc.

    “Since I came back from prison in November, I have stolen brain-boxes of 47 cars. My targets are Toyota products.

    “Whenever I am going on operation, he is the one that gives me transport money. Most times, he tells me the specifications of the car he wants me to operate on.

    I live in Marwa, Victoria Island. I had surveyed the company earlier in the day. And I knew those cars belonged to that company. At about 4am after operation, I had removed all I need to remove. The security sighted me and raised the alarm. They were chasing me. Unfortunately for me, RRS officers were patrolling. They sighted me, pursued me with their vehicle and arrested me.

    “I usually break one of the small side glasses at the back seat to gain entrance. After I might have gotten all those parts, I would call Oga Dona who would tell me where to meet any of his boys for the collection of the parts.”

    He mentioned Chidozie, 32 and Ananyor, 33 as those that collect the stolen items on a Dona’s behalf.

    “At times, I take it to them in Boundary in Ajegunle and most times in Toyota Bus Stop, Oshodi. I sell Toyota Corolla brain box for N30,000; N25,000 or N20,000. The least of the parts is N2,000”.

    Chuwku said: “Our boss, Oga Dona, usually gives me N30, 000 to N35, 000 to give Segun and collect the goods in his hand. He asked me to wait for him at Toyota bus stop or any other place to collect the stolen car parts.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

  • Prison boss: Officers working under challenging circumstances

    The Controller-General, (CG) of the Nigerian Prisons Service, (NPS) Ja’afaru Ahmed, has decried the poor condition officers are working to manage over 69 thousand inmates in prison custody.

    Inadequate office equipment and other necessary logistics, Ahmed said, has been a major issue.

    He spoke in Abuja at a two-day workshop for the NPS Command Public Relations Officers in collaboration with Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), with the theme: “engaging the media in managing offenders in prison custody.

    Ahmed said: “Employing the latter has often been a source of friction between authorities and the captive population. Therefore as a prisons officer, beyond understanding the dynamics of providing custodial services for prisoners, it is also important to appreciate communication process with the public using the media in order to guide against skewed and negative narratives. We need to know how to properly manage the over 69 thousand prisoners under our care.

    “The mandate of the Nigerian Prisons Service as you all know, is to secure safe and humane custody of persons legally interned by courts of competent jurisdiction, establish causes of their rebellious behaviour, put up appropriate treatment regimes to re-socialise them, manage various vocational training centres including farms towards economic viability and support prisoner’s re-integration back into the society through After-Care Scheme.

    “Recent developments have made it more imperative for you as field officers to sharpen your skills to ensure that you carry out this onerous task with utmost professionalism balancing respect to stakeholders and the protection of the Service’s integrity. Developmental strides that have been recorded in the areas of inmates training in sundry vocations, successes in external examinations, after-care scheme etc are all laudable care and support given to prisoners that deserve good mention in the media and it is your duty to let the public know.

    “I appreciate the fact that you work under challenging circumstances of inadequate office equipment and other necessary logistics to do your job. Although the global economic difficulty is having its toll in our bid to cover these gaps, I however promise to support the public relations unit within the limit of available resources.

    “I am delighted to address you at this important seminar put together to up-scale your capacity in the discharge of your assignment as Command Spokespersons of the Nigerian Prisons Service. The theme for the seminar which is “Engaging the Media in Managing Offenders in Prison Custody” is not only a wise choice but quite apposite as the media remains a veritable vehicle of information dissemination to members of the public.

    “May I use this opportunity to remind you to key into the wind of positive change with a loud sermon of transparency and accountability blowing round the country.

    “I have no doubt that with the array of well selected resource persons to facilitate the seminar, participants will be well equipped to discharge their duties more efficiently and effectively.”

    The Executive Secretary of Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), said NPS needs more funding from government.