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Tag: Kuje Prison

  • Kuje prison break: Embattled Kyari, other VIPs didn’t escape – NCoS

    Kuje prison break: Embattled Kyari, other VIPs didn’t escape – NCoS

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has said embattled DCP Abba Kyari and other very important personalities (VIPs) detained in the Kuje Custodial Centre did not escape, following an attack that happened at the facility on Tuesday night.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NCoS Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Umar confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, contrary to an earlier report.

    However, Umar did confirm that four inmates died and 879 escaped during the attack by the unknown gunmen. Umar said that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively.

    He said that a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Custodial Centre was killed, adding that three personnel of the NCoS were seriously injured.

    “A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large.

    “Four inmates are dead and 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates, ” he said.

    Umar said that the Service would deploy its Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) in synergy with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.

    He also confirmed to the general public that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape, adding that they were presently in custody, hale and hearty.

    After the attack at the Medium Custodial Centre in Agbolongo, Oyo state, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, met with heads of security agencies under his supervision.

    This is where the idea of Joint Security Task force comprising the NCoS , Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the NSCDC  was formed to forstall  further breaches on custodial facilities.

    According to Umar, at the time of the attack on the Kuje facility, 38 military personnel were on ground in addition to that of the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, DSS and our Armed Squad.

    “This is the Minister’s efforts to rejig the security architecture of our facilities. The public is also informed that some of the attackers were killed while some escaped with gunshot wounds.

    “We, therefore, appeal to hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency,” he said.

    Umar said the Controller General, NCoS, Mr Haliru Nababa appreciated the efforts of other security agencies for coming to the rescue of the Service in a timely manner.

    Nababa called on the public to volunteer useful information that might lead to the arrest of the fleeing inmates.

    He reassured the public that the unfortunate incident was being handled with every sense of dedication and professionalism.

    He extended his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives during the attack and wished the injured a quick recovery.

    Kuje jailbreak: Rights activist calls for swift action

    Meanwhile, the Country Director of the Advocacy for Justice and Accountability, Mr Ogedi Ogu has called for the fortification of Nigeria’s security architecture to forestall jailbreaks.

    Ogu, also a rights activist and lawyer, was reacting to Tuesday’s jailbreak at the Kuje Correction Centre in Abuja when he also called for quick actions by security agencies to re-arrest fleeing inmates. According to Ogu, the rate of jailbreaks in the country has called for much concern.

    “This is a very dangerous situation for the country. It is expected that where Kuje prison is located ordinarily should be fortified; an attack on the prison, promoted by alleged terrorists, simply shows that our security has been dealt a heavy blow,” he said.

    Ogu said that the jailbreak had caused hardened criminals to be released into the society, urging  urgent actions by security agencies to avoid more attacks.

    “All security stakeholders must wake up and try to infiltrate these elements and ensure that they are neutralised,” he said. According to Ogu, each of the fleeing inmates must be accounted for.

    Earlier, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi had said 64 Boko Haram suspects escaped from the Kuje custodial after the attack on the facility.

  • BREAKING: All Boko Haram suspects in Kuje prison escaped – Defence Minister

    BREAKING: All Boko Haram suspects in Kuje prison escaped – Defence Minister

    Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi has said all Boko Haram suspects detained in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja have escaped.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Magashi made this known on Wednesday while addressing journalists after taking an assessment tour of the facility, following Tuesday night’s attack.

    According to Magashi, there were about 64 Boko Haram suspects in the Kuje prison. He said the prison authority has not been able to account for them.

    The Defence Minister said from records, it is likely that the elements that carried out the attack are Boko Haram members.

    Magashi revealed that the prison is accommodating about 994 inmates, including the embattled DCP Abba Kyari, who is facing prosecution for alleged fraud.

    TNG reports the whereabouts of Kyari is not known even as Magashi confirmed that over 600 inmates escaped from the prison.

    “The attack started around 10:30 pm. They came in their numbers, gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.

    “Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.

    “The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned. I think everything is under control.

    “The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group.

    “Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.

    “I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped,” Magashi said.

    TNG, meanwhile, reports the remaining inmates of the prison have been relocated, in the wake of the attack. It is unclear if Kyari was relocated along with the remaining inmates.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack Kuje prison in commando style

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack Kuje prison in commando style

    Gunmen in commando style attacked the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja with explosives on Tuesday night.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports sporadic gunshots and bomb blasts were at the Kuje prison that is located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Residents close to the area said the heavy gunshots started at about 10 pm and lasted close to an hour. They said it was not clear who the gunmen are but believed to be some criminal elements.

    Meanwhile, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Abubakar Umar has confirmed the attack.

    In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Umar confirmed that the yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the prison at about 10 pm.

    “However, men of the Armed Squad of the NCoS and other security agencies attached to the Custodial centre have responded.

    “Calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control. Details will be made available soon,” he said.

  • Suspended DCP Kyari’s presence at Kuje prison generates excitement among inmates

    Suspended DCP Kyari’s presence at Kuje prison generates excitement among inmates

    The presence of the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former Commander- Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) at Kuje, Abuja, since Monday has generated excitement among inmates in the facility, a source said.

    The source hinted that some of the inmates cooling off with Kyari and his police colleagues are being investigated for various crimes by the IRT under his watch, before his arrest.

    According to the officer, Kyari, who has largely kept to himself, rejected food from the NCoS, insisting to eat meal brought by his wife or family members.

    An officer stated, “We suspected that he may not eat the food being served here. So, we were not surprised when he opted for the food prepared by his wife or family members.

    “His presence has, however, generated excitement in the facility. Many inmates who had some encounters with him and others who heard about his ongoing trial have been discussing the fact that a senior policeman like him was remanded in Kuje where some individuals he investigated are also serving time.”

    Kyari is under prosecution for drug trafficking, alongside four other former IRT members namely Sunday Ubia, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu.

    The suspended DCP and his cohorts were denied bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, after the court ruled that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, placed sufficient materials before it to warrant their refusal of bail.

    NDLEA, in the charge before the court, accused Kyari and the other four officers of conspiracy, obstruction and dealing in cocaine worth 17.55kg.

    The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwike, ordered the drug agency to transfer the defendants to prison custody, shortly after he denied them bail.

    The court held that the NDLEA placed sufficient materials before it to warrant the refusal of bail to Kyari and his co-defendants -Sunday Ubia, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu, who are former IRT members.

    NCoS spokesman, Francis Enobore, said inmates facing prosecution had the right to eat food prepared by their family members, noting that they are free to provide their food by themselves.

    He stated, “Our law allows us to request any inmate who wishes to do self-feeding to apply through a formal application to the officer in-charge of the custodial centre. Subject to the approval of the official in-charge, the applicant will make arrangements with whoever he wishes to bring food for him.”

    “The caveat is that if the person fails to bring food, he would not be fed from the service’s kitchen. Again, whoever is bringing his food; it is compulsory the person tastes the food in the presence of the officer conducting the visit to ensure that the food is wholesome before passing it over to the inmate.”

    Enobore explained that no alcohol drink or cigarettes are allowed in the correctional centres, adding that 12 officers were facing sanctions for breaching the law on trafficking of illegal materials into the facility.

    “No alcoholic drink or cigarette is allowed in the facility. Wherever you found them in the yard, they are a product of trafficking and we deal seriously with such issues.

    “There is a long list before me now of officers to be dismissed for trafficking. Five will be dismissed while seven others will be reduced in rank,” he said.

  • JUST IN: Sowore, four others sent to Kuje Prison

    JUST IN: Sowore, four others sent to Kuje Prison

    A Magistrate court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has ordered the remand of Omoyele Sowore and four others at Kuje Correctional Centre.

    This is pending when there formal bail application will be heard tomorrow, January 5, 2020.

    Sowore is being arraigned alongside four others by the Federal Government on three charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to incite others.

    Although they all pleaded not guilty to the charges, the prosecution alleged that the defendants were arrested on New Year’s eve with placards calling for a violent revolution against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Sowore was arrested by the police for leading a protest against bad governance on New Year’s Eve in Abuja.

    Sowore had earlier before the protest charged Nigerians on Twitter to hold a crossover protest by picking up a candle and a placard showing their grievances against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “How about a crossover protest/uprising tonight? Anyone willing to participate? Pick up a candle and a placard showing your grievances against the regime; let’s upload our short videos and photos across our social media platforms. Let’s welcome the regime to a resolute 2021!

    “#CrossoverWithProtest against tyrant @mbuhari’s regime, candlelight for #LekkiMassacre; a placard for #EndBadGovernment; procession to usher in #Revolutionary 2021, a fist for victims of repression-frozen bank accounts, malicious prosecution and detention of #Endsars activists.

    “#Crossoverwithprotest starts at 11.30 till 12.30 am across Nigeria, a candle, a placard and fireworks to usher in a RESOLUTE 2021 in Nigeria! Join with your friends and neighbours ‪#EndSARS. ‪#ObigboMassacre ‪#LekkiMassacre ‪#EndBadGoveranceInNigeria ‪#BuhariTrainwreck ‪#RevolutionNow,” Sowore tweeted on Sunday, December 31, 2020.

    The protest was eventually joined by others in states including Ondo and Kaduna.

    This is not the first time Sowore will be arrested. He was detained for over 100 days in 2019 for calling for a #RevolutionNowProtest.

  • Ex-PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh released from Kuje prison [Photos]

    Ex-PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh released from Kuje prison [Photos]

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has been released from prison after about 10 months of serving a jail term.

    Pictures of Mr Metuh, leaving the Nigerian Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje in Abuja, the nation’s capital, were shared on Twitter by a PDP chieftain, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

    Fayose, who is the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, congratulated the former spokesman for the opposition party, saying, “Welcome back home Olisa Metuh, tough time don’t last…”

    Metuh was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with his company Destra Investment Limited, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    He was charged with seven counts of illegally receiving monies to the tune of N400 million from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), under Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

    On February 25, 2020, Justice Abang convicted and sentenced the former PDP spokesman to seven years imprisonment.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of the court, Metuh approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal with an application seeking to set aside the ruling of the lower court.

    In his argument, he alleged among others that the trial Judge was biased and failed to accord him a fair hearing.

    About 10 months after the judgement of the Federal High Court, the appellate court agreed with the appellant that the trial judge was biased and quashed the judgement.

    In its judgement delivered on Wednesday last week, the panel of three justices, led by Justice Stephen Adah, ordered a retrial of the case.

    After reviewing the judgement of the appellate court, the EFCC said it would approach the Supreme Court to challenge it.

    A week after the appellate court delivered the judgement, Metuh was released from the correctional facility in Kuje, Abuja.

  • Ex-Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, released from Kuje Prison

    Ex-Pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, released from Kuje Prison

    Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has been released from Kuje Correctional Centre nine months after his detention.

    Mr Maina, who was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Okon Abang, on October 25, 2019, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his son, Faisal, and firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd., had been in detention since the period.

    However, Mr Maina’s Lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, in a telephone interview with NAN on Tuesday, said the ex-PRTT boss was finally released on Monday evening after completing the necessary documents for his freedom.

    Mr Adedipe, who is from the chamber of Lawyer Ahmed Raji, SAN, said though Mr Maina should have been released July 24, it was delayed till this week due to administrative procedures.

    “It was already late last week Friday so they now have a new timeline shifted at 6 ‘O’ clock.

    “We went there and everything was done,” he said.

    On why Mr Maina had been kept in detention after Mr Abang further varied his bail conditions on June 29, the lawyer said: “It was also administrative. There were lapses here and there; transmission of processes from one department of government to another.”

    He, however, said the development had nothing to do with an act of vindictiveness on the part of the government officials.

    Mr Adedipe, who expressed happiness over the release, said the action would not only afford his client to have adequate medical attention but would also afford him time to prepare for his defence.

    “We can only thank God and this is good for us because we will now have time to prepare for his defence; we will now have goof conferencing on the matter.

    “We will have a better perspective of what the case is all about. And this will also allow him to treat himself knowing he has been very ill in order to stand the trial,” he said.

    Another counsel to Mr Maina, Afam Osigwe, also confirmed that his client had been released from the correctional centre.

    “Yes, Maina came out yesterday (Monday). We have met all the bail conditions but they did not release him until yesterday,” he said.

    Mr Osigwe said he was happy Mr Maina had been released on bail and that the development would allow him to attend to his health challenge and continue his trial.

    The ex-Pension Reform boss, through his lawyer, Joe Gadzama, SAN, had, on June 23, informed the court that Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South, had decided to stand as surety for him.

    Mr Ndume, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, had, in a statement on June 24, had also admitted standing as surety for Mr Maina.

    He revealed that it took him six months of painful consideration to agree to be a surety for the ex-Pension boss, and that it was part of the cross he had to carry as Mr Maina’s elected senator.

    The lawmaker said, “It was a hard decision I had to make because I have a duty to represent the good, the bad and the ugly of Borno South.”

    Mr Abang had, on January 28, varied Mr Maina’s bail conditions, following his inability to meet the bail terms granted him on November 26, 2019.

    Mr Abang reduced Mr Maina’s bail condition from N1 billion to N500 million with a surety in the like sum who must be a serving senator as opposed to the earlier order of producing two serving senators.

    The judge ruled that the surety, who should not have a criminal case pending in any court, must have a landed property fully developed in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, Katampe or Central Business Districts of Abuja, with Certificate of Occupancy attached as evidence.

    Mr Abang also ruled that the senator would always come to the court at every adjourned date, the lawmaker only needed to come and sign a court register that would be opened at the registry, among other terms.

    However, Mr Maina had been unable to get a senator as surety for his release until Mr Ndume decided to do so.

    Mr Abang, who had, on June 29, considered the arguments of parties, said it was within the court’s jurisdiction to either grant bail by vacating the existing conditions or grant new conditions.

    Although Mr Maina is charged with 12-counts bordering on money laundering, he, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

  • BREAKING: Court orders Orji Kalu’s release from Kuje Prison

    BREAKING: Court orders Orji Kalu’s release from Kuje Prison

    The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu from Kuje prison.

    The court also ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to immediately put machinery in motion for the retrial of the former governor.

    The court further ordered that his trial should start afresh along side the former Director of Finance in Abia State Government House, Ude Jones Udeogu in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court that declared Udeogu’s trial, conviction and sentence a nullity.

    The presiding Judge, Mohammed Liman made the order after listening to the argument and submission of Kalu’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN leading four other lawyers.

    EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob, SAN, did not oppose the application, as he told the court that he did not want to waste any time for the trial to start afresh.

    In his ruling, Justice justice Liman said, the application of the applicant, Orji Uzor Kalu was meritorious and hereby granted accordingly as prayed, and that he should be released from the Kuje correctional services.

    He also ordered that EFCC should take steps for his re-arraignment so that his trial could start afresh.

    Orji is serving a 12-year jail term at the Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja for looting N7.65 billion belonging to the Abia State Government.

    The former Governor now a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria hired a 12-man team of lawyers, to file application for his release.

    The application pending before Justice Mohammed Liman was filed on May 12 asking the court to nullify his conviction sentence and release him.

    Justice Mohammed Idris who was elevated to Court of Appeal, on December 5, 2019, convicted Kalu and a former Director of Finance in the Abia State Government House, Ude Jones Udeogu of the offence of fraud.

    Udeogu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
    However, following Udeogu’s appeal, the Supreme Court on May 8, 2020 declared that the fiat issued to Justice Idris to conclude the case after he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal was “a nullity”.
    The apex court set aside Idris’ verdict “as it relates to the appellant (Udeogu)’s conviction.
    Consequently, the court ordered that Udeogu should be released and the retrial of his case.
    However, Kalu who was not part of this appeal contended that no legal basis existed for his continued incarceration following the Supreme Court’s judgment which declared the whole trial a nullity and freed Udeogu.
  • Maina, son to remain in Kuje prison till January 20

    Maina, son to remain in Kuje prison till January 20

    Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTM), and his son, Faisal, are to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, till January 2020.

    Justice Okon Abang, who gave the order yesterday, adjourned hearing on Abdulrasheed’s bail variation application till January 13, 2020, while Faisal’s trial continuation was adjourned till January 20, 2020.

    Earlier yesterday, Justice Abang had noted that though it would not be convenient for the court to take trial, bail variation arguments would be taken.

    EFCC’s lawyer Mohammed Abubakar said he was ready for trial continuation and that the next witness was in court.

    Abdulrasheed’s lawyer Mohammed Monguno reminded the court of the pending application filed on December 6, 2019, for bail variation.

    Abubakar urged the court to adjourn hearing on the bail variation application because the defence had just served on him its further affidavit the same day.

    “We apply that the hearing be adjourned to enable us react to their further affidavit,” he said.

    Monguno, who described the motion as “simple application,” said the call for the adjournment was to delay proceeding.

    “We were the ones who filed further affidavit in response to their counter-affidavit. We urge your lordship not to grant their prayer because it is an attempt to delay this matter,” he said.

    Deborah Apete, counsel to Maina’s company, Common Input Investment Limited, adopted the submission of Monguno, saying: “The motion is ripe for hearing.”

    Abubakar, in his argument, said that Maina’s application was brought relevant to provision of ACJA and 1999 constitution.

    He said there was no provision in ACJA or the constitution that precludes ones from filing further counter-affidavit in reaction to further affidavit filed by the applicant.

    “What the first defendant filed was a further and better affidavit.

    “Section 36 of 1999 Constitution affords us the right to file further counter-affidavit,” he said.

    Abubakar said Maina’s application was filed on December 17 but they deliberately served him December 18 in order to deny EFCC the right to fair hearing by way of responding to the further and better affidavit.

  • Dariye, Nyame currently serving jailterms at Kuje – EFCC

    The duo of Jolly Nyame, a former Governor of Taraba State and Joshua Dariye, a serving Senator and a former Governor of Plateau state are currently serving jailterms at Kuje Prison.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), having secured a total of 312 convictions between January and December 24, 2018, made this known on Thursday.

    The record of convictions is undoubtedly a significant improvement from the 189 convictions recorded in 2017, according to the commission.

    Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Nwobike, who has been stripped of the highly revered legal title, was also convicted for perverting the course of justice in the year.

    Dariye and Nyame, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the “guilty” verdict handed down on them by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gudu presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko.

    However, while upholding their convictions, the Appellate Court commuted Dariye’s jailterm to 10 years, and that of Nyame to 12 years with a fine of N495 million.

    “With the convictions, the EFCC, led by Ibrahim Magu as the acting Chairman, has remained consistent in its concerted efforts aimed at ensuring that the negative narrative of pervasive corruption in the system is changed for the better, and the perception that some persons are above the Law, is altered.

    “The record of convictions cuts across the various offices of the EFCC with Lagos securing 85 convictions, Abuja with 53, followed by Kano with 36.

    “Port Harcourt secured 33 convictions, Gombe recorded 28; Benin had 27; Enugu, 15; Maiduguri, 11; Ibadan, 10; Uyo, 8, and Kaduna, 6,” the commission said.