The Comptroller-General of Prisons,
Ibrahim Zakari, has set up a panel to investigate the allegation of
sodomy levelled against five senior officials of Kuje prisons, Abuja, by
an inmate, Charles Okah.
The panel, headed by the Federal Capital Territory Comptroller of Prisons, is to submit its findings within a week, The PUNCH gathered on Wednesday.
A Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, in a
petition to the CGI, alleged that the prison officials abused Okah on
the pretext that they wanted to confirm if he had illegal substance in
his anus.
In the petition dated July 30, 2013,
Keyamo alleged that the prison Chief Clerk, Isah Musa; an Assistant Yard
Master, Tanko Gokuje, and three other officials entered Okah’s cell and
sexually abused him on the grounds that he was hiding “incriminating”
materials in his anus.
The lawyer maintained that although his
client protested against the examination, the warders overwhelmed him in
the cell and had their way in the act.
The petition read, “Having heard from
other inmates in the past that this is a known pattern used by warders
to ‘sodomise’ inmates, our client initially resisted the attempt, but he
was forced to succumb after much pressure and insistence by the
culprits.
“However, having succumbed, to the utter
shock and dismay of our client, he saw Isah Musa pull off his clothes
and with the sustained attention of his organ, attempted to carry out
the act of sodomy on him.
“To achieve this, Mr. Tanko Gokuje and
three other warders held our client to the ground. Our client had to
intensify his struggle and resistance to prevent the completion of the
criminal act. Our client screamed for help and this was heard by other
inmates.”
Keyamo said although his client reported
the incident, the prison authorities, led by a Deputy Comptroller,
Felix Lawrence, pleaded with Okah not to further the case.”
However, the Service Public Relations
Officer, Ope Fatuminu, who confirmed the institution of a panel to
examine the case, told our correspondent on the telephone that the
service would not tolerate indiscipline among its personnel.
Fatuminu explained that searching of inmates was a legal and a normal routine in the prisons.
According to him, the idea is to ensure that no contraband and illegal substance come into the premises.
He added, “The CG has set up a panel to
investigate the allegation but you remember that it is an allegation,
which has not been proven; and that is why the officials that were said
to be involved in the act were not suspended.”
0 Comments