Lagos lawyer and rights activist, Festus Keyamo, has accused Kuje Prisons officials in Abuja of attempting to forcefully perform acts of sodomy with Charles Okah, who has been imprisoned since 2010.
Charles, currently standing trial before the Federal High Court, Abuja, is brother of convicted leader of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah.
The allegation was a contained in a petition written by Keyamo on behalf of Charles to the Comptroller General of Prisons.
A copy of the petition, which was obtained by Daily Independent, was also copied Interior Minister, Registrar of Court 5, Abuja Federal High Court and prosecutor in the case, Alex A. Izinyon (SAN).
Keyamo, in the petition, urged the prison boss to urgently investigate the allegation and effect appropriate sanctions on the culprits, including their dismissal from Nigerian Prisons Services forthwith.
He said: “On Wednesday, 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 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 sodomise 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 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,” Keyamo narrated.
Source: Daily Independent
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