Tag: Inmates

  • Eid-el Fitr: Kano governor, Ganduje pardons 43 inmates

    Eid-el Fitr: Kano governor, Ganduje pardons 43 inmates

    Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the governor of Kano State  has pardoned forty-three inmates serving various jail terms across the state.

    Ganduje pardoned the inmates on Friday, at Goron Dutse custodial facility in the spirit of  Eid-el-Fitr festivities.

    Represented by his Deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Ganduje said his administration has acquitted four thousand and thirteen inmates and settled fines and compensations for the inmates to the tune of four million, nine hundred and forty-nine thousand nairas, (N4,949,000)

    Governor Ganduje tasked the pardoned prisoners to exhibit good character after being re-integrated into society.

    State Controller of the correctional service, Suleiman Muhammad Inuwa said the gesture will assist in decongesting the facilities and ensure a peaceful atmosphere.

  • A’Ibom Chief Judge pardons 45 inmates

    A’Ibom Chief Judge pardons 45 inmates

    The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, has released 45 inmates across the state during her facility visit to the Correctional Centres.

    The Chief judge made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Uyo on Friday after a three-day facility visit to correctional centres in the state.

    Obot called for the relocation of Eket Correctional Centre to decongest the facility for better management of inmates.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the chief judge visited; Ikot Abasi, Eket, Ikot Ekpene and Uyo correctional centres.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) also reports that during the visit, three inmates were pardoned from Ikot Abasi, nine were discharged and acquitted in Eket, 11 inmates were also freed from Ikot Ekpene while 22 inmates were released from Uyo correctional centres respectively.

    The chief judge said that some of the freed inmates had spent more years in the correctional centres than the penalty for the offence they were charged with.

    Obot said that some of the inmates had been in the facilities between four and five years without being charged to Court.

    She urged the freed inmates to go and turn a new leaf and engage themselves in useful ventures and stay away from crimes as they might not be lucky to have another chance.

    The chief judge said that Ikot Abasi facility was good enough in the state while she adjudged Eket facility as the worst with a capacity of 123 but currently having 300 inmates.

    “As I said at the beginning, Ikot Abasi was okay, and the capacity was not fully utilised. So, it was more organised than every other facility apart from Ikot Ekpene. Ikot Ekpene is the best facility we have in the state.

    “Eket is the worst of all, it is limited in space and the number is overwhelming and they are not able to cater for the inmates there.

    “I have suggested that the Custodial Centre’s authority in Abuja should negotiate with the Governor of the state and even the community for a good space to relocate that facility for better management of the inmates,” she said.

    She expressed concern that the Police and Director of Public Prosecution in the state would keep inmates in custodial centres without trial and some with no case for years.

    The chief judge called on the police officers in charge of legal matters and director of public prosecutuon to ensure diligence in prosecution to avoid the destruction of justice delivery system.

    She warned the police against unnecessary arrest and confinement of innocent persons in custodial centres without thorough investigation and charging them to Court.

    She said that such arrest or confinement constituted a breach of the affected person’s constitutional rights.

  • How Nigerian woman, Chizoba died in Ethiopia’s prison

    How Nigerian woman, Chizoba died in Ethiopia’s prison

    A Nigérian woman, Chizoba Favor Eze, has died in Kaliti Prison , Addis Ababa, Ethiopia .

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that she died in the early hours of Sunday, 12th, 2023

    According to sources from Kaliti prison, Chizoba suffered physical aggression from the prison police who later rushed her to the hospital but could not resist internal bleeding.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG)  reports that Kaliti Prison is a maximum security prison in Addis AbabaEthiopia. Commonly referred to as a gulag, it serves as the main prison of the country. It is 11 km south of central Addis Ababa, in Akaky Kaliti, the southernmost subcity of the nation’s capital.

    According to a source, several inmates have died due to constant aggression on the part of Kaliti prison staff. and some inmates have lost their lives due to malnourishment as they are allegedly fed once a day.

    It was reported that the prisoners feed themselves and they buy their food and toiletries in the prison.

    “If you have no money to buy your things in the prison, you will die,“ Amaechi, an inmate said.

    How Nigérian woman, Chizoba died in Ethiopia's prison

    The death of Chizoba, according to sources, provoked reactions from other inmates, they insist that prison officials terminated the life of Chizoba Favor Eze in Kaliti prison as a result of poor medical services.

    Emeka, a Nigérian inmate insists that all efforts to draw the attention of the Nigerian government to the deteriorating condition in Kaliti prison have failed.

    Nnamdi, a Nigerian inmate also accused the prison officials of showing a lack of concern about the welfare of the inmates, “They maltreat specifically Nigerians for reasons we still don’t know “ Nnamdi said

    Ethiopia is a country with a history of political instability, ethnic conflicts, and human rights abuses. Its criminal justice system has been criticized for its lack of transparency, due process, and fair trial, as well as for its poor prison conditions and treatment of inmates.

    The conditions and treatment of inmates in Ethiopian prisons have been a subject of concern and controversy for many years, with reports of overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate medical care, and abuse.

    Prison conditions in Ethiopia are characterized by severe overcrowding, poor hygiene, and inadequate medical care. Many of the prisons in the country were built during the imperial era and have not been updated or expanded to accommodate the growing number of inmates.

    One of the most notorious prisons in Ethiopia is Kaliti prison, located in Addis Ababa. Kaliti is a prison that holds both pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners, including political prisoners and journalists.

    The prison has a capacity of 800 inmates but is currently holding over 3,000 prisoners, resulting in severe overcrowding and a lack of space.

    Inmates are forced to sleep on the floor, sometimes in shifts, due to the lack of beds and mattresses. The cells are also infested with rats, cockroaches, and other pests, making the living conditions unbearable.

    Hygiene in Ethiopian prisons is also a major issue. The lack of proper sanitation facilities and clean water has led to the spread of diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.

    Inmates are forced to use makeshift toilets or open pits, which are often overflowing and unhygienic. The water supply is often contaminated or insufficient, leading to dehydration and waterborne diseases.

    Inmates are also not provided with adequate clothing or bedding, and many are forced to wear the same clothes for months, leading to skin infections and other health issues.

    Medical care in Ethiopian prisons is often inadequate or non-existent. Inmates who are sick or injured are often neglected or denied access to medical care, leading to serious health consequences.

    Many prisons do not have qualified medical staff or basic medical supplies, and inmates are often forced to rely on traditional remedies or self-medication. In some cases, inmates with serious medical conditions are chained to their beds or confined to isolation cells, further exacerbating their health problems.

    The treatment of inmates in Ethiopian prisons has also been a subject of concern and controversy. Inmates are often subjected to physical and psychological abuse by prison staff, including beatings, torture, and humiliation.

    Female inmates are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation, and there have been reports of rape and forced prostitution in some prisons.

    Inmates who are suspected of political or ethnic affiliation are often targeted for harsher treatment and punishment, including prolonged solitary confinement and denial of family visits.

  • Prison decongestion: Justice Ministry secures release of 12,000 inmates

    Prison decongestion: Justice Ministry secures release of 12,000 inmates

    The Prison Decongestion program of the Ministry of Justice has resulted in the release of 12,000 inmates across correctional centres in the country since 2016.

    Secretary of the Prison Decongestion Committee of the ministry, Mrs Patricia Ayoola Daniels made this known in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2023 budget defence of the ministry.

    Newsmen reports that the budget defence was conducted by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for the ministry and its agencies.

    According to her, the ministry after the release of the inmates had also upgraded the skills acquisition centers starting with the pilot center at Keffi correctional center to equip the inmate that were released.

    She also disclosed that legal services was provided to inmates during the decongestion exercise.

    ” Usually during the jail delivery exercise, the committee ensures that awaiting trial persons are assigned to courts right there.”

    She also said the Federal Ministry of Justice has supported the release of 180 juveniles from foster institutions in the country.

    “We visited about three in the last one year and granted them amnesty and we went with experts from UNICEF to properly re-integrate the children back.

    Ealier, Justice Minister Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the ministry has enjoyed tremendous support from the legislature in the aspect of passing the much needed bills into law.

    He said the laws has help to provide the legal framework in the implementation and administration of justice.

    “With your support, the justice sector has been transformed into an avenue, not only for a law enforcement, but indeed for revenue generation and huge sums of money and assets has been recovered by the ministry and other agencies also,it has help to block revenue leakages.”

    Malami called for sustained support for the justice sector, particularly in respect to actions, plans and initiatives geared towards entrenching rule of law, institutionalizing access to justice, protection of freedom, as provided for in the constitution.

    He said the 2023 budget proposal of the ministry was largely based on priority, targeted to develop the capacity of the justice subsector to meet with the ever evolving complex national and international obligations to fight corruption and restore investors’ confidence.

    According to him, the 2023 budget was focused to re-calibrate the economy and inevitably facilitate peace and security in the nation.

    Malami therefore solicited the support of the Senate committee to achieve the mandate.

    He said noted that the ealier support of the committee which had resulted in recovery of funds and assets that had been channeled into infrastructure development like construction of second Niger bridge,lagos and -Kano express ways among others.

    “We have taken significant steps to support measures to ensure peace and security, fight terrorism, and enhance access to justice,”he said.

    He also solicited for improve funding of the ministry’s budget to further execute its mandate in the justice sector.

    “We need to reconceptualize the existing funding pattern of the justice sector to support critical reforms in the sector.

    “The ministry and all its agencies are in dire need of funding.

    “Consequently, I wish to solicit for your support for sufficient funding to support on- going reform, initiatives which have spiral effects on national development and entrenching democracy.”

    Earlier in his remarks , Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele ( APC- Ekiti), said the 2023 budget estimates for the Federal Ministry of Justice and its agencies as contained in the Appropriation Bill submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari , is N71.291billion .

    The total sum according to him, is inclusive of allocations to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) and statutory transfer to the National Human Rights Commission.

    He specifically commended the President for increasing the budgetary provisions of the Council of Legal Education from N2.7billion it was in the 2022 fiscal year to N10.12billion proposed for 2023 fiscal year .

    The increase , he explained , would make the council to put the various Law Schools in proper shape.

  • Aregbesola gives details of how terrorists attacked Kuje prison, faults security agents

    Aregbesola gives details of how terrorists attacked Kuje prison, faults security agents

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has revealed that the terrorists that attacked the Kuje Correctional facility disarmed 31 military personnel protecting the prison.

    At an investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Joint Committee investigating the Kuje Custodial Centre attack, Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola admitted, for the first time, that security agents failed in countering the terrorists.

    Mr Aregbesola said he would have disclosed the type of weapons at the disposal of the men, however, he would not be doing that in the presence of the media. He called for an executive session.

    “On the night of the attack, Kuje accommodated 994 inmates out of which 64 were terror suspects, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and others. No fewer than 888 inmates escaped during the attack, among them were 554 awaiting trial persons. 71 were convicts, 36 were on death row and 17 were on life imprisonment and 106 refused to leave the facility during the attack.  About 28 inmates who left the facility, voluntarily returned between the 6th and 15th of July.

    “In that facility on that day of the invasion were 31 military personnel of the Nigerian army, five personnel of MOPOL 21, five personal of MOPOL 50, two personnel of counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria police, two personnel of Kuje police division, seven personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service, three personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 10 personnel of correction armed square.

    “These 65 people were there for the specific responsibility of assisting and preventing any attack and they were all armed.

    “These 65 people were posted to protect the prison from any attack and they were all armed. Because of the presence of the press, I will not mention the specific arsenal at their disposal.

    His comment led to a mild drama when the committee members debated on whether or not reporters should cover the hearing.

    The short drama ended briefly with reporters being allowed to cover the proceeding.

  • Inmates: Correctional service urges INEC to extend voting rights

    Inmates: Correctional service urges INEC to extend voting rights

    The Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend voting rights to inmates to allow them to exercise their civic responsibilities as Nigerians.

    He made the appeal when he led the management of the service on a visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

    Nababa, who was represented by Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Daniel Odharo, said that the meeting with INEC was to work out the modalities for the inmates to vote in the 2023 elections in line with the recent court ruling.

    Recall that the court recently gave a judgment in favour of inmates to vote in elections.

    “The modalities to meet the process needs to be worked out and so we need to be here to discuss with INEC to find out how this process can be achieved,” Nababa said.

    On his part, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said that the commission was committed to inclusivity including the rights of inmates to vote during elections.

    Yakubu cited Kenya and South Africa as two countries in Africa that had extended such rights  to inmates,

    He said while INEC had no issue against inmates voting in Nigeria, there were critical issues that must be considered, saying the Electoral Act 2022 spell out the criteria for registration as a voter including being free and not legally incapacitated.

    “Let me start with the legal framework. Section 12(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 lists five qualifications for registration as a voter in Nigeria because you have to register as a voter before the right to exercise that right as a voter is conferred.

    “Number one, the prospective registrant must be a Nigerian citizen. Number two, he or she must be 18 at least. Number three, he or she must originate, reside or work in the local government or ward covered by the registration centre or the point of registration.

    “Number four that citizen of Nigeria must present himself or herself to the registration officer for registration as a voter.

    “Number five, which is really critical to our discussion today is that he or she must not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any law, rule, or regulation imposed in Nigeria.

    “So this is one area that we need to discuss so that we know the categories of inmates that will exercise the right to vote.

    “We need to work things out carefully. We want transparency in the process. Because everything that we do in the commission, particularly when it comes to the rights of citizens to vote, must be done transparently.”

    Yakubu said that there are certain questions that must be answered in considering the request such as will the inmates vote outside the prison or inside the prison?

    “So are we going to set up polling units inside the prisons or there will be polling units outside the prisons?”

    Yakubu said since the majority of inmates are awaiting trial, the Commission believes that some of them are already registered voters, while some are not registered.

    “If they are registered voters, they can’t be registered. What they will do is transfer their registration. Will they transfer their registration to the correctional centres for that reason?

    “Will political parties be allowed to campaign inside the correctional centres? This is a matter that we need to advise the commission.

    “Will observers and the media be allowed access to the correctional centres on election day so that the process is really transparent?

    “Will INEC officials be granted access to the correctional centres for voter education? This is a matter that we need to discuss?

    “Will election holds in all 218 Federal Correctional centres currently holding inmates nationwide? Or there are some correctional centres where this process can start instead of over 218.

    “We understand that some of the correctional centres are not holding inmates at present. So the process be allowed to cover all the 218 centres?

    “So these are some of the issues that we need to carefully discuss and resolved before a decision is taken.

    “But in principle, the commission is committed to ensuring that all Nigerians are given the right to vote and be voted for but in this particular case, the right to vote, which is exercisable under the law.

    “ The sooner we are able to address these issues, the better for the process,” Yakubu said.

    He said that while the critical thresholds for 2023 may not be met, the two agencies would continue with the discussion on what could happen beyond 2023.

  • 3,084 males, 61 females on death row in prisons across Nigeria

    3,084 males, 61 females on death row in prisons across Nigeria

    No fewer than 3,145 inmates are on death row in custodial centres across Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports spokesman to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, in a response to enquiry by newsmen on the numbers of inmates awaiting execution at the various correctional center across the country said there were 3,084 males and 61 females on death row.

    Some lawyers and human rights activists have consistently expressed concerns over the fate of the inmates, as most state governors refuse to sign the death warrant, leading to the rising number of inmates on death row.

    Some of them have suggested the conversion of the death sentence to life imprisonment, while some argued that if government wasn’t willing to sign the warrant, capital punishment should be expunged from the constitution as well as other relevant laws

    Meanwhile, despite complaints by several stakeholders, including lawyers and authorities of the NCoS, over the congestion of the facilities, the number of inmates in the custodial centres have continued to rise, fuelling congestion and making management of the centres difficult.

    Figures on the website of the NCoS indicated that as of July 4, there were a total of 74,675 inmates in the country’s correctional centers comprising 52,714 awaiting trial and 21,961 convicted inmates with the number of male inmates given as 73,139 while female inmates accounts for 1,536

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Gov. Ganduje grants pardon to 90 inmates in Kano

    Eid-el-Kabir: Gov. Ganduje grants pardon to 90 inmates in Kano

    90 inmates across Correctional Centres in Kano state have been granted pardon by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje in celebration of the Holy Eid-el Kabir.

    A statement from the Kano Command of The Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr Musbahu Lawal, made this known on Saturday.

    It said that the inmates were pardoned and released based on various categories of offences.

    “About 77 inmates’ fines were settled and compensated while 10 inmates on Death Row (IDR) were also pardoned by the governor. “

    Amongst the10 on death row, three were sentenced to life imprisonment, including a female inmate, the statement said.

    The Correctional authority attested to the good behaviour and dedication of the freed inmates, towards their reformation programmes and had shown remorse for their crimes.

    The statement further revealed that in addition to the freedom, Ganduje offered them N5,000 each, to serve as transport fare.

    The Comptroller of Corrections, Kano State Command, Mr Sulaiman Inuwa, commended the governor on behalf of the Controller General of Corrections, Mr Haliru Nababa.

    He expressed appreciation to the governor for the relentless support and assistance to the command over time.

    Newsmen reports that since its inception, the Ganduje administration had made it a tradition to visit the correctional centres for the Sallah celebration.

    It was gathered that Ganduje donated cows, rams, and rice to the inmates, to celebrate the Eid.

  • Kuje prison attack: NCoS gives report on inmates’ stolen money

    Kuje prison attack: NCoS gives report on inmates’ stolen money

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed reports that fleeing inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, during the attack, stole money (local and foreign currencies) belonging to their fellow inmates

    The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Abubakar Umar confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    Some media reports had alleged that personnel at the Kuje Custodial Centre could not account for the sums of N82 million and $36,000 cash belonging to inmates.

    Scores of terrorists had on July 5, launched a daring attack on the facility, bombing their way in.

    They freed 879 inmates, among whom were at least 64 who terror-related charges are on their necks.

    Umar however, explained that its personnel did not keep such huge sums within custodial facilities.

    He said that the clarification became imperative against the misleading narrative the unfounded information had generated and the diversion of attention from addressing the challenges at stake.

    According to him, all Inmates’ cash deposited in the custody of the authorities of the custodial centre was intact and safe.

    “There is an existing instruction from the Controller General , NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa that all officers superintending custodial centres must not keep huge sums in the facility,” he said.

    Umar reported Nababa as sparing no effort or resources in hunting down all the escapees.

    He added that it was heart-warming that the integrated strategies were yielding favourable results.

    Nababa expressed appreciation to security agencies and patriotic Nigerians whose collaboration was facilitating the recovery.

    He assured the public of his irrevocable commitment to bringing back all escapees to answer for their crimes.

    The NCoS boss appealed to citizens to assist in achieving the task by visiting the NCoS website https://corrections.gov.ng/escapees for the pictures of the escapees and alert the nearest security agency on suspicion or seeing any of them.

  • Rauf Aregbesola speaks on inmates swapping in Nigerian prisons

    Rauf Aregbesola speaks on inmates swapping in Nigerian prisons

    Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, says it is impossible to swap inmates in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service with free citizens.

    The minister said the on Friday in Abuja in his opening remarks at the third and fourth quarter 2021 performance review meeting of the ministry and its agencies.

    The rumour mills had been replete with stories about how the Nigerian Correctional Service swaps inmates with free citizens.

    “The allegations we hear are worrisome and most are false and almost impossible.

    “There is a minimum setback between our facilities and human development areas, but if it’s not being enforced at some correctional services, we will ensure the enforcement,’’ he said.

    The minister assured that no such swapping would be tolerated under his watch, stressing that government would further secure already properly-secured facilities of the Nigeria Correctional Services.

    Speaking on current delays in the issuance of travel passports, Aregbesola said the integration of the National Identity Number (NIN) with names database was responsible.

    He stressed that Nigerians must know that if the names on their passport bio data and NIN do not tally, it would be difficult to prove that such names identified one person.

    “We must integrate NIN with passports and that’s why most of the delays are not caused by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    “For as long as your bio data integrates with your NIN which is in the database of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), then you have no issue.

    “If the database of NIMC cannot accept your bio data, then the issuance of passport will be difficult,’’ he said.

    Aregbesola also blamed periodic server failure at the NIMC for delay in confirmation of NIN and consequently the issuance of passports.

    “Tally in arrangement of names is important as these little things conspire against speedy processing of passports.

    “Most applicants do not care about these minute details even though we have digitalised the entire application process,” he said.

    He said the ministry and the NIS were working to ensure that passports applicants were able to track their applications online.

    Agencies of the ministry are the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, the Federal Fire Service and the NIS.

    The minister urged the agencies to pay serious attention to public perception about them.

    “What you get the public to see and believe is of great importance and if a user of your service is dissatisfied with your service, then act, appropriately,’’ Aregbesola Advised.