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Army Blames Kuje Prison Break On Absence Of CCTV, low fence

Published

1 year ago

March 21, 2024

UBy Gloria Ikibah

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has blamed the attack on Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre in Abuja low fencing and absence of CCTV within the general area.

These he said were some of the things that was observed and was not in place before the incident occurred in 2022.

The Army Chief disclosed this during a one-day investigative hearing on two motions, “Decongestion of Correctional Centres in Nigeria” and “Call on the Nigerian Correctional Service to Account for Inmates that escaped from Kuje custodial facility”, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The hearing was organised by the Joint House of Representatives Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior and Human Rights.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that terrorists broke into the facility on July 5, 2022, and freed hundreds of inmates, including Boko Haram members.

He further stated that prior to that incident, the Nigeria Army through the Guards Brigade Commander, had written series of letters to the Deputy Controller General concerning some of the security observations about the facility.

“We know that the Deputy Controller General is doing is everything possible to see if most of these equipment that would enhance the security is provided. However it was still on the process when the incident happened.

“One of those things was the issue of lightning. During the period, we noticed that there was no lightning within the general area. It’s not as if it was deliberate. Efforts were being made by the Deputy Controller to see if we could find solutions to some of these challenges.

“We also observed that the place where the Kuje Prison is located is more of a built up area and that gives room for a serious security challenge where a lot of civilians are living among the prison environment.

“These are some of the challenges the environment created. We also observed issues of low fencing and CCTV absence within the general area. These are some of the things that we observed and these things were unable to be put in place before the incident. I want to believe that these things would have assisted the guards”.

Lagbaja, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Commercial Law, in the Directorate of Nigerian Army Legal Services, Major Peter Ogbuinya said the situation does not call for trading blame but aimed at getting a possible solution and forestalling a similar occurrence.

He said: “We the Nigerian Army are playing a complementary role to the correctional centre by virtue of provision of guards to assist the correctional centre.

“However in the Correctional Centre, Kuje to be precise, Nigeria Army is not the only security agency that is deployed there. There are other sister agencies that were also deployed. Unfortunately the day the incident took place, there is what we call rotation among the troops, rotation of troops. Take for instance the end of every month, troops would be rotated. New soldiers would be brought in to replace the old ones.

“Unfortunately it was that day during the period of rotation that the incident actually took place. I wouldn’t want to comment on the possibility or otherwise of having an insider, looking at the period the incident took place”.

According to him, soldiers that were deployed at the time were still being probed and if found culpable in the incident would be appropriately punished.

“On our own side, the troops that we deployed are under investigation and the military hierarchy is still working on possibly finding out if there is any of the soldiers that had failed to do what they were expected to do and possibly disciplinary action taken but as it is, it is still within the military hierarchy and military courts to look at the matter critically to know if the soldiers that were deployed had done the needful,” he added.

The Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, who stressed the need for the decongestion of the correctional facilities, said Nigeria has a total inmate population of 78, 519 against a capacity of 64, 192.

The CG wasr epresented by the Deputy Controller General, Training and Staff Development, Tukur Mohammed Ahmad,

He said, “The decongestion of custodial centres has become the concern of all and sundry partly due to the unending challenges it causes to the criminal justice system in Nigeria. Efforts are put in place by the Federal Government to cut costs of feeding the inmates which often runs into billions of naira annually.

“The NCOS maintains 265 custodial centres across the country, with the capacity of 64, 192 against a total inmate population of 78, 519 as at March 18, 2024. Of this actual inmate population, 70 percent represents persons on awaiting trial.”

He said to achieve the speedy decongestion of the correctional centres in the country, there is need for the completion of the 3000 capacity new custodial centres that are built across the six geopolitical zones.

Increased unding he said was needed by the Service to achieve these

Earlier, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, lauded the Committees for their joint efforts on the fact-finding mission to the root of the overcrowding nature of correctional centres in addition to the inmates that escaped from Kuje custodial facility, two years ago which left the nation in utter embarrassment.

He said the ultimate objective of the investigative hearing is to examine the activities of the correctional service in order to promote accountability, transparency and responsiveness in the running of the agency for enhanced service delivery, contribute significantly to the overall progress and development of our country.

Chairman of the Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, said the congestion of custodial facilities across the country is an affront to human rights and a major drawback of the criminal justice system with very dire consequences.

Ogah said incessant violations of correctional centres and inmates escape are extremely embarrassing and a security threat to the nation.

He expressed their resolve for a holistic overhauling of the system for effective and purposeful justice delivery and for optimal performance of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

“I wish to assure you that the Committee with the strongest support of the Leadership of the House, led by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD) is poised to engage all legislative tools at its disposal to ensure effective and efficient criminal justice system second to none in the world,” he said.

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who was represented by Mrs Ayola Daniels said efforts have been ongoing towards decongestion of correctional centres nationwide.

He said the Ministry of Justice supported the efforts to decentralise the correctional service to allow states establish and manage their own correctional centres.

This, he said, was achieved through the alteration of the constitution that moved the correctional service from exclusive to concurrent list.

He said this is expected to fast track the decongestion of Correctional centres nationwide when properly implemented.

News

Your Best Days in Politics Are Still Ahead – Speaker Abbas Tells Kalu

Published

3 hours ago

May 7, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has hailed his Deputy, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as a rising force in Nigeria’s political landscape, describing him as a man whose journey is only just beginning.

Abbas gave the remarks on Tuesday inside the chamber, shortly after plenary, as members of the House gathered to celebrate Kalu’s 54th birthday with a brief ceremony and a cake-cutting session.

Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, turned 54 on Monday.

A lawyer by training and former spokesperson for the House, he has grown into a familiar face not just within Nigeria’s legislature but also across international parliamentary networks.

In recent times, Kalu has taken on significant continental and global responsibilities. He chairs the Finance and Administrative Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament and leads the African Union Parliament’s Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs. He is also an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and sits on the steering committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization.

His colleagues describe him as strategic, forward-looking, and quietly ambitious, a lawmaker whose blend of eloquence and diplomacy has made him a respected voice both at home and abroad.

Speaking to journalists after the brief celebration, Abbas said, “Benjamin Kalu is not just a Deputy Speaker. He is a man with vision, poise, and the kind of political maturity that Nigeria will need even more in the years to come. His future is very bright.

“We congratulate our brother, partner, mutual ally and friend. For almost 2 years, we have been working seamlessly. I am a very lucky man, working with somebody who appreciates, understands me and is always ready to support me. I couldn’t have asked for anybody better. He’s such a sound, knowledgeable and technical person.

“So, today, on behalf of the 360 members of the House of Representatives, I say a big happy birthday to you. Congratulations on your attainment of the age of wisdom. You are now an elder statesman. You are now in the comity of Elders. So, please, accept our congratulations.

“Our prayer for you is that God should continue to be your shepherd and pillar of strength, continue to give you the wisdom and the altitude to give a good representation not just to the people of your only but to the people or the South East and Nigeria in general. Your Excellency, I believe with the way you are going, the sky will be your limit. I see you in places we don’t imagine. I know, people like you, with the kind of commitment and patriotism you have for Nigeria, we pray that your future will be brighter than your past anf present. Congratulations.”

In response, the Deputy Speaker expressed profound gratitude to Speaker Abbas for his kind wishes and prayers, pledging his continued support and loyalty.

“Thank you, Your Excellency for being who you have always been. Once in while, I will go to him and say, sir, let’s do an appraisal. Is there anything that I am not doing well so that we can put it in order because I am here to support? My job is nothing but to support and assist and make him succeed. If the Speaker is successful, I am successful. If you are a Deputy, you are a Deputy. You are not the principal.

“Sparingly do you find a principal who wants his Deputy to go high. I wish him well because the leadership circle still needs him around. He has treated me well and I enjoy working under him. We will keep following and the remaining 2 years, we will make sure that we give you all the support. And to the members, thank you for supporting Mr. Speaker. Thank you for being there for us. God bless you”, Kalu said.

Similarly, the House of Representatives Press Corps led by its chairman, Gboyega Onadiran also presented birthday card to the Deputy Speaker, describing him as an outstanding lawmaker.

The card read thus “We, the entire members of the House of Representatives Press Corps, heartily congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

“Your are indeed, very outstanding. Your commitment to legislative excellence has made a significant impact. You have stamped your feet on the sands of history.

“Ndi Igbo and Indeed, Nigeria at large must be proud of you, particularly in sponsoring the bill that birthed the establishment of South East Development Commission (SEDC).

“We pray that the Almighty God continues to be with you, grant you good health, and preserve your life so that future generations may benefit from your wealth of experience and the important national assignments entrusted to you. Happy Birthday, Your Excellency.”

On their part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also extended warm felicitations to the Deputy Speaker on the occasion of his birthday.

In a message jointly signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osuigwe (SAN) and the General Secretary, Dr. Mobalaji Ojibara, the NBA described Kalu as “a remarkable leader whose dedication to legislative excellence and commitment to democratic ideals continue to inspire hope and confidence in the governance of our nation.”

The Association commended the Deputy Speaker’s purposeful strides in the National Assembly, especially in promoting inclusive lawmaking, national unity, and constitutional reforms.

It further noted that his leadership journey from representing Bende Federal Constituency to serving as Deputy Speaker is a testament to his resilience and the high regard in which he is held by colleagues and constituents.

“As you mark this special day, we join your family, friends, and well-wishers in praying for continued wisdom, sound health, and renewed strength to sustain your impactful service to our beloved country,” the message read.

News

Council poll: APC working on consensus candidates ahead of primaries

Published

5 hours ago

May 7, 2025

Admin

Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working towards consensus candidates for the upcoming primary election scheduled for Saturday.

The move is part of the party’s efforts to maintain unity and reduce internal frictions.

Five aspirants emerged unopposed following the screening organised by the party.

The incumbent Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Sulaimon Yusuf; his counterpart in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jubril Yisa; Motunrayo Alogba of Ijede LCDA and Kasali Bamidele in Lekki LCDA emerged unopposed. A new aspirant, Azeez Kareem, was the only person cleared to contest in Oto-Awori LCDA.

Chairman of the APC Lagos State Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, in an interview with The Nation, disclosed that more aspirants had emerged unopposed following interventions from the party leaders.

He expressed optimism that many more aspirants would step down before the Saturday primary election.

“We are hoping to have at least 70 per cent consensus candidates going into the primary election. If we can achieve that, it will leave us with only 30 per cent to conduct primaries for,” he said.

According to him, the appeal committee, headed by Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN, has been sitting for the past two days and has received over 100 petitions.

Ogala said the committee had treated over 70 of the petitions and would conclude their assignment today (Wednesday).

He explained that while the party had prepared for indirect primaries, involving delegates drawn from local government executives, efforts were ongoing at various levels to arrive at consensus candidacies in many wards.

He said electoral materials were being finalised for distribution by Saturday, with electoral officers already appointed to oversee the process in all 57 local councils.

Ogala said security had been fully arranged in collaboration with the police, DSS, civil defence and Lagos traffic officials to ensure order and smooth movement at the secretariats where the primaries were expected to take place.

According to him, the party is also scheduled to hold a key stakeholders’ meeting today with senior officials and aspirants to finalise agreements and chart the way forward.

News

$400m steel factory set to begin operations in Ogun

Published

5 hours ago

May 7, 2025

Admin

President of Inner Galaxy Group, Mr. Li Shuang, yesterday, disclosed that his company was ready to set up a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory with the capacity to employ about 6,500 direct and indirect workers in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He made this known while leading a delegation of principal officials of the organization at the Governor’s Office located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He added that the company is expected to commence operations in April 2026, saying the organization, a multinational company with vast investments in Asia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and some African countries like Ghana and Angola, entered the Nigerian market in 2005, producing iron rods for the building industry.

Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed delight in the huge investment, as he ascribed the success to his administration’s deliberate and intentional move to make the state the leading industrial hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

“This is a $400 million investment; this aligns with the President’s vision to ensure that we grow this economy to a trillion dollars, and I think that you will be contributing your quota in achieving that. We are excited that you will also be employing people.

“I will be commissioning a multimillion-dollar diagnostic equipment facility during the week. This administration has managed to attract quite a lot of industries in the last six years,”

Abiodun noted that the state is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, adding that alluvial gold had been discovered in large quantities, just as the state has the highest quality of lithium.