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.”
Source: Punch
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