The Comptroller-General of Prisons,
Nigerian Prisons Services,
FCT – Abuja.
Dear Sir,
OPEN COMPLAINT ON THE ATTEMPT TO SODOMIZE MR. CHARLES OKAH BY MR. ISAH MUSA (THE CHIEF CLERK), TANKO GOKUJE, (THE ASSISTANT YARD MASTER) AND THREE (3) OTHER WARDERS IN KUJE PRISONS, ABUJA.
We are solicitors to Mr. Charles Okah, (hereinafter referred to as “Our Client”), and on whose behalf we write this complaint.
Recall that our client who is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja has been in the custody of the Nigerian Prisons, Kuje, Abuja since 2010.
Our client has briefed us that on Wednesday, 3rd July, 2013, at about 6.30 am, some Prison Warders, specifically Mr. Isah Musa (the Chief Clerk), Mr. Tanko Gokuje, (the Assistant Yard Master) and three (3) other Prison Warders (hereinafter referred to as the culprits) entered our client’s cell (No.1) and demanded to search his anus because they claimed they had information that he was hiding “incriminating” materials therein. Before entering his cell, they made sure all other inmates were locked up in their various cells.
Having heard from other inmates in the past that this is a known pattern used by warders to sodomize inmates, our client initially resisted the attempt, but 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 that Mr. Isah Musa pulled off his clothes and sustained erection and attempted to carry out the acts of sodomy on him. To achieve this, our client was then held to the ground by Mr. Tanko Gokuje and three (3) other warders. 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.
Our client reported the foregoing event to the Officer in Charge of Kuje Prisons, DCP. Felix Lawrence who, in conjunction with the Kuje Prison authorities pleaded with our client not to make a formal complaint, and further suppressed the incident.
We find the forgoing events very unfortunate, disheartening and totally unacceptable to our client and the entire society. This criminal act has been reported as a common and recurring phenomenon in the Nigerian Prisons. It simply shows the despicable level of moral decadence of the officers who are paid to take charge of prison inmates. It is our considered opinion that such criminal and immoral acts should not be tolerated or condoned in anyway.
We hereby call on you to use your good offices to urgently investigate the foregoing complaints and effect appropriate sanctions on the culprits, including their dismissal from Nigerian Prisons Services forthwith.
We repose confidence in you.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
For: Festus Keyamo Chambers.
JOHN AINETOR, ESQ. BENEDICTA N. OBANYE (MISS)
Counsel. Practice Manager, Abuja.
Cc:
1. Hon. Minister of Interior,
Federal Secretariat,
Abuja.
2. The Registrar,
Federal High Court No. 5
Abuja.
3. The Prosecutor,
Dr. Alex A. Izinyon, SAN
Abuja.
