Charles Okah Alleges Sexual Assault By Prison Officials

One of the suspects of October 1, 2010 Abuja twin bombing, Mr Charles Okah, has raised an alarm over an attempt by some prison officials to assault him sexually.


Charles, the younger brother to Henry Okah is currently standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja over alleged terrorist activities and has been in the custody of the Nigerian Prisons, Kuje, Abuja since 2010.

However, the suspect has claimed that he was no longer comfortable staying in kuje prisons following his recent experience with some prison officials, and consequently briefed his lawyer Festus Keyamo on his experience.

Keyamo in a letter of complaint to the The Comptroller-General of Prisons, dated Tuesday, July 30, 2013 and a copy emailed to LEADERSHIP stated that his client (Okah) briefed him on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at about 6.30 am. The same prison wardens entered his client’s cell (No.1) and demanded to search his anus because they claimed they had information that he was hiding “incriminating” materials therein.

The letter titled “open complaint on the attempt to sodomize me Charles Okah by Mr Isah Musa (the chief clerk), Tanko Gokuje, (the assistant yard master) and three other wardens in kuje prisons, Abuja”, reads in part:

“Our client has briefed us that on July 3, 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 and 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 wardens 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 other wardens. Our client had to intensify his struggle and resist to prevent the completion of the criminal act.

Our client screamed for help and this was heard by other inmates.

Source: Leadership