Tag: Kuje

  • FCTA shuts down “illegal” clinic in Kuje

    FCTA shuts down “illegal” clinic in Kuje

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has shut down an unregistered clinic, Dada’s Clinic and Maternity Ltd, operating in Kapwa, Gaube Community in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Olayinka explained that the facility, located along the main road leading to the community was shut on Sunday by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC).

    He said that one Mr Sabiu, who introduced himself as the health worker managing the facility, was detained and handed over to the police for further investigation.

    He said that the team was led by the Director, Medical and Diagnostics Department, acting on the directives of the Mandate Secretary, Health and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe.

    He added that the visit followed allegations that the facility was operating without registration and conducting medical procedures in a rented apartment unfit for healthcare services, under the guise of a medical outreach.

    Olayinka said that Sabiu had admitted that the clinic was not duly registered with PHERMC.

    Sadly, the Minister’s spokesman revealed that preliminary findings have indicated that a community elder had tragically passed away following a hernia operation performed at the facility.

    “Additionally, multiple reports emerged of patients who barely survived procedures and required emergency medical care elsewhere.

    “The facility, an unpainted building with burglar-proof ironwork at the entrance, was in a dilapidated and unsanitary condition.

    “It lacked windows, doors, and basic amenities such as a reception area, nursing station, bathroom, or toilet.

    “The structure had four rooms and a general area, including an unfinished extension in unacceptable sanitary condition.

    “At the time of the visit, three patients were on admission, including an elderly patient receiving intravenous infusion,” he said.

    Olayinka added that all patients in the facility were confirmed to be stable and were referred to Kuje General Hospital for proper medical care.

    He expressed Wike’s zero tolerance to the operation of illegal health facilities in the FCT.

    He reiterated the Minister’s commitment to ensuring safe and regulated healthcare services, through facility accreditation as a simple process and “as such, there is no excuse for operating illegally.”

    He echoed the Minister’s directive that all unregistered health facilities should be sealed henceforth to protect residents from unsafe medical practices.

  • Normalcy returns to Kuje after violent clash

    Normalcy returns to Kuje after violent clash

    Normalcy has returned to Kuje Area Council of the FCT after a violent clash on Friday that claimed one life through suspected accidental discharge by police personnel.

    A correspondent who visited the area on Saturday reports that residents were seen going about their businesses.

    Some of the residents who spoke to NAN said the clash erupted at about 7pm around the Tipper Garage area of Kuje after an argument between two men.

    Mr Bulus Ayuba, an eyewitness said the argument between the two men started when they came out from a supermarket in the area.

    He said the police officer attached to the supermarket stepped in to resolve the issue when the argument became tense.

    Ayuba said all efforts made by the police officer yielded no result as the argument continued to attract crowds.

    “When the crowd was much and the police officer became helpless, he attempted to shoot into the air to disperse the crowd.

    “Unfortunately, somebody in the crowd touched the gun and that was how he missed it and shot someone on the head,” he said.

    Mr Philip Adeyeye, another eyewitness said shortly after the victim was taken away, the entire area became rowdy, with youths protesting.

    Adeyeye said a vehicle parked at the premises of the supermarket was razed down by the angry youths.

    He said it took the intervention of military and additional deployment of police personnel to bring the situation under control.

    When contacted, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Olatunji Disu, said the command was aware of the incident.

    He said the police officer involved in the matter was already in the custody of the command, adding that investigation on the incident had commenced.

  • Wike vows to complete dualisation of Kuje township road in December

    Wike vows to complete dualisation of Kuje township road in December

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike says the ongoing dualisation of Kuje township road, from Tipper garage to LEA Secretariat will be completed in December.

    Wike gave the assurance shortly after inspecting the project, being executed by Gilmor Engineering Nig. Ltd, in Kuje on Thursday.

    He added that due to the importance of the road to the residents of Kuje, the FCT Administration had extended the project from LEA Secretariat to Gwagwalada.

    The Minister had in February 2024 awarded the contract to Gilmor as part of President Bola Tinubu administration to take development to rural communities.

    According to him, the road, when completed, will boost economic activities in the area and ease the movement of people, goods and services from Kuje to Gwagwalada.

    “The dualisation of the road in Kuje centre will also be handed over to us by December. We have directed the contractor to continue the dualisation from Kuje to Gwagwalada to ease transportation difficulties for residents going to Gwagwalada.

    “This will not only reduce the distance, but also impact positively on the economies of Kuje Area Council.”

    The Minister added that the construction of the six-lane dual carriage way from Airport Road to Kuje, being executed by Arab Contractors, was also going on as scheduled.

    He commended the pace of the work, adding that the contractor has promised to finish all earth work by end of the year.

    Speaking on the resources for all completed and ongoing projects in the city centre and area councils, the minister simply said, “is a matter of strategy and being prudent with available resources.

    Wike, who added that most of the funds were from FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), said, “No government will say they have all the resources needed to provide services to the people. What is important is that we try to make sure everybody pays his or her taxes.

    “What I can tell you about Nigerians is that, when they see that the taxes they pay are being utilised, they reciprocate by making sure they pay their taxes. They are however reluctant to pay, when they pay taxes, and nothing is on ground to show for it.”

    He said that the FCTA was trying as much as it could, to continue to increase its IGR. He called on the residents of Kuje to cooperate and support the contractor to ensure timely completion of the projects.

  • EndBadGovernance: Freed protesters narrate how they ate beans and garri for 68days in Kuje

    EndBadGovernance: Freed protesters narrate how they ate beans and garri for 68days in Kuje

    Freed protesters released to the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Uba Sani, have narrated how they survived on beans and garri during their 68 days stay at the Kuje prison in Abuja.

    Recall that no fewer than 114 suspects arrested during the August #EndBadGovernance protests were on Tuesday released to the governors of Kano and Kaduna states by the Federal Government.

    The detainees were released to the governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, following their discharge by a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Federal Government had dropped the treason charges against the defendants after the uproar that greeted their arraignment, especially minors among them.

    Speaking to our correspondent after they were reunited with their families on Wednesday, Hassan Muhammad, a resident of Ghana road in Malali, Kaduna North Local Government Area of the state, said the experience was very bad.

    He said, “I was arrested on 5th August, 2024 at Ahmadu Bello Way in Kaduna during the #EndBadGovernance protest. After our arrest, we were taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where we gave our statements and from there, we were moved to the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID).

    “We spent 18 days at the FCID after that, we were taken to Kuje Prison. We spent 68 days in the prison. It was a bad experience and the feeding was also bad. They were giving us beans and garri for the days we spent in the prison.”

    Also speaking, Muhammad Abubakar from Zaria said he had learnt a valuable lesson with his arrest and detention, adding that the experience would be with him for a while.

    The Commissioner Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, urged the discharged protesters to go back to their communities and engage in advocacy, sensitisation and peace building so that they could be better members of society.

    She said the detainees, comprising 39 adults and two children, would be supported with empowerment and psychosocial service.

  • Ex-Minister of Power remanded in Kuje granted N10bn bail

    Ex-Minister of Power remanded in Kuje granted N10bn bail

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, admitted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a N10 billion bail with two sureties.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Mamman’s bail application moved by his counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, held that alternatively, the former minister shall enter into a bond or agreement of N10 billion with a bank.

    The judge held that the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    Justice Omotosho also held that the sureties’ property, which must have title registers, must worth N750 million valuation.

    Moreover, the judge said that the sureties must present affidavit of means and three years tax evidence which would be verified by the court registrar.

    He ordered that that sureties must produce a passport photograph each while Mamman must submit his international passport to the court registry.

    Justice Omotosho, who ordered Mamman to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail, adjourned the matter until Sept. 25 for trial.

    Recall that Justice Omotosho had, on Thursday, ordered the remand of ex-minister in the correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

    The judge gave the order after Mamman pleaded not guilty to a 12-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offences.

    Upon hearing the bail application on Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, A.O. Mohammed, did not oppose Mamman’s bail plea.

    Delivering the ruling, the judge said granting bail is a constitutional right of the defendant which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

    He said the defendant is innocent until proven guilty by law.

    The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against the Mamman. He was alleged to have committed the money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.

    The former minister served under former President Buhari from 2019 to 2021.

    On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

    Buhari had Sept. 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was called a cabinet restructuring.

    Mamman was accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert billions of naira.

    The investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars had reportedly been recovered.

  • Female drug trafficker apprehended at Kuje prison [Photos]

    Female drug trafficker apprehended at Kuje prison [Photos]

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) FCT Command has apprehended a lady, Precious Yusuf trying to push in drug to inmates of medium Security Custodial Centre Kuje, Abuja.

    This is contained in a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Mr Samson Duza, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Duza said that the lady came into the Kuje custodial centre on Tuesday, July 9 disguising as a visitor to an inmate.

    Suspected drug trafficker

    He said that it was during the usual routine search by officers of the centre that items suspected to be Indian hemp, and other dangerous drugs concealed in food packs in a carton were recovered.

    “The culprit confessed to have been sent to bring this to an inmate of the custodial centre,”he said.

    Recovered illicit drugs by the NCoS personnel

    Duza quoted the Controller, FCT Command, Ibrahim Usman as ordering that the suspect be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

    Usman, however, warned drug peddlers to desist from trying to smuggle illicit substances into the custodial centres on the guise of visits’ saying that officers and men were at alert to deflate such plot.

    He called on the general public and well meaning Nigerians to support the Service in its reformatory pursuit to keep the society safe, while assuring the public of safe custody of those legally interned.

  • Jailbreak: FG to fortify nation’s correctional centres – Interior Minister

    Jailbreak: FG to fortify nation’s correctional centres – Interior Minister

    The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment toward fortifying the nation’s correctional centres against any external attack.

    The minister, who made this known during an inspection tour of Kuje Correctional Centre on Thursday in Abuja, stated that it was the resolve of the present administration to prioritise the fortification to forestall jailbreaks.

    Tunji-Ojo expressed delight about the ongoing rehabilitation work at the centre, which he described as a mark of seriousness on the part of any determined and serious government.

    “Compared to the last time when we came here and compare it with what is on ground now, no doubt it will go a long way to forestall any nature of external attack on this facility.

    “As you can see, the perimeter fencing is completed as well as the solar fittings on both sides of the fence to illuminate the facility for additional security.

    “So, basically, it’s not just about Kuje alone but it will be replicated to other correctional centres across the country.

    “Recall that in 2022 when this centre was attacked, everybody acknowledged the extent of the damage to our pride as Nigerians.

    “So, when we came on board, and since the former administration had already conceived the idea of fortifying the nation’s correctional centres, we immediately prioritised it.

    According to him, with President Bola Tinubu’s intervention fund, it enables us to achieve this feat so far. As you can see, am happy to tell you that about nine of our correctional centres are under rehabilitation right now.

    He expressed optimism that in no distant time, Kuje correctional centre would witness a complete turnaround that would be a model to others.

    “This is a pointer to the fact that the President cares about the security of Nigerians, about the inmates and making correctional centres correctional in nature and not condemnation centres.

    In a similar development, the minister, who also took a tour of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) Academy, promised to build the best and the most sophisticated fire academy in West Africa.

    This, he said, was to enable the service give the best training to its personnel to meet with the ever changing dynamics in fire fighting globally.

    “By the grace of God, on May 28, we will be having the ground breaking ceremony here with the completion period of just one year to be delivered.

    “We are bringing down lots of projects here and we are erecting modern fire academy that can be compared to the best you can get anywhere in the world.

    “As I always say, fire service is not just a profession or choice; it’s a mandatory profession that we must all encourage in our society.

    “This is because; the first priority of any government is to secure lives and property of its citizens. And you know one of the biggest threats to security of lives and property is fire.

    “Obviously, fire service is not just about fire, is about rescue service being the first render in case of any emergency,“he stressed.

  • Tinubu@72: Minister visits inmates in Kuje Correctional Service

    Tinubu@72: Minister visits inmates in Kuje Correctional Service

    Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, on Friday visited the inmates of Nigerian Correctional Service, Kuje to  commemorate 72nd birthday of President Bola Tinubu.

    The minister, who was represented by his aide, Nafisa Bello, said the visit was to celebrate President’s birthday with inmates by providing them packs of food to put smile on their faces.

    Tijani, who wished the President a happy birthday, said the gesture was a way of commending the President’s resilience, pragmatic leadership and commitment to service.

    He said even though the president had instructed that no one should organise a birthday party or place any birthday goodwill advertorial messages in newspapers, it was a special day.

    “We are here to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s 72nd birthday and share love with the inmates. We have distributed food packs, we have met and had good conversations with some of them.

    “We wish the president a happy birthday, long life and property,” minister said.

    One of the inmate, Chiwendu Hart, who spoke on behalf of all the inmates described the gesture as an act of love, adding that they were not in the correctional service for punishment but correction.

    He thanked the Federal Government and the correctional officers for rehabilitating and integrating the inmates to come out and live a crime free life.

    According to him, the Nigerian Correctional Service has set up degree courses, ran by the National Open University (NOUN) and some skills to keep the inmates busy while undergoing trials.

    He said that he had graduated and had a Masters in theology and waiting to enroll for his PhD.

    “I am a beneficiary of NOUN, I came here with secondary school certificate but today, I am a graduate and have my Masters in theology.

    “Even if after you leave the correctional centre, you can still come back and finish up the courses or the skills you started with.

    “Once we leave here, we will go out there and explore what we have learnt in order to live a good life.”

    He urged the Federal Government to equip some of the vocational programmes with study materials, tailoring machines, carpentry and shoe making tools.

    He wished the President a happy birthday.

  • Army finally opens up on 2022 Kuje prison break

    Army finally opens up on 2022 Kuje prison break

    The Nigerian Army has blamed the July 5, 2022 Kuje prison break on the absence of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the facility.

    Major Peter Ogbuinya, the Assistant Director, Commercial Law, the Directorate of Nigerian Army Legal Services, stated this at the investigative hearing by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior, and Human Rights in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ogbuinya said after the jail break, the army observed that the prison was located in a densely populated area.

    “We observed the facility has low fence and has no CCTV cameras installed in the place before the incident,” he said.

    Ogbuinya said the army only play complimentary role in providing security in Correctional Centres.

    ‘’The day the incident occurred, we had a rotation of troops and I would not want to comment on the question regarding the possibility of having an insider.

    “Prior to that incident, the Nigerian army wrote series of letters to the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service concerning our observations and things that would enhance security around the facility.

    “We are still working to know if there are any soldiers who failed to do what they were meant to do within the military hierarchy,” he said.

    Mrs Ayoola Daniel, a representative of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, said the ministry was in support of decongesting correctional centres in the country.

    She said that the correctional service had been moved from the exclusive to concurrent list, adding that state governments were expected to take up the responsibility of decongesting the centres.

    Also speaking, Mr Philip Ayuba, the Assistant Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) urged the committee to look into the possibility of engaging members of National Youth Service Corps to provide legal services to prisoners.

    “We still have so many young men in prison; we are requesting that NYSC lawyers be sent to prison to look at some of the minor cases so that we can decongest the prison,’’ he said.

  • BREAKING: Court remands ex-CBN gov, Emefiele in Kuje prison

    BREAKING: Court remands ex-CBN gov, Emefiele in Kuje prison

    An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered that the former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele be remanded in Kuje correctional centre until Nov 22.

    Justice Hamza Muazu gave the order and adjourned until Nov. 22 when Emefiele’s bail application will be heard.

    Emefiele was arraigned on six count charges before Justice Muazu.

    His lead counsel, Mathew Burkaa SAN, moved the application for bail which Rotimi Oyedepo vehemently opposed on behalf of the Federal Government.

    After taking arguments for and against the application, Justice Muazu said a bench ruling could not be delivered in view of the plethora of authorities cited by the two parties.

    The Judge said he needed a little time to study the authorities and peruse through the exhibits supplied by Emefiele to support his request for bail.