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Suspects Await Trial At Kirikiri Correctional Centre For 12 Years

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How Inmates Escaped From Plateau Correctional Facility - Controller

Suspects awaiting trial for up to 12 years are still at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Correctional Centre in Lagos.

This was disclosed by the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Lagos State Command, Adewale Adebisi.

According to him, these form part of the 6,800 inmates awaiting trial in the five correctional facilities in the state at Ikoyi, Kirikiri (Female), Kirikiri (Medium), Kirikiri (Maximum) and Badagry.

Adebisi spoke at Kirikiri during a plea bargain sensitisation session by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice as part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities.

The Kirikiri Centre has a capacity for 1,076 inmates but currently houses 1,830 inmates, 283 of whom have been convicted, 1,075 are awaiting trial , 88 are serving life terms and 372 of them are on death row while 12 inmates are lodgers (inmates in transit).

The government team, including heads of agencies and directorates, among others, was led by Lagos Attorney-General (A-G) Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).

Adebisi said: “In Lagos, we have 8,000 incarcerated inmates in the correctional facilities, out of which a total of 6,800 inmates are awaiting trial.

“Obviously the largest percentage is awaiting inmates, some of whom have been on trial for between 10 and 12 years.”

Adebisi described the plea bargain sensitisation session as “the first of its kind in Nigeria”, adding that it would, among others, help to decongest the custodial centres and reduce the crime rate.

READ ALSO: Vigilante Shoots Dead Okada Rider Over N100 Extortion

Responding, Onigbanjo explained that 27 inmates comprising 16 males and 11 females benefitted from the plea bargaining session, adding that it would be a continuous exercise.

He said 530 persons had benefitted from plea bargaining in Lagos State since 2017.

“530 do not look like a very large number but there has been lethargy among inmates and lawyers to take up this opportunity,”

Onigbanjo said, adding that this was why the session was important.

Some of the 27 that benefitted included Solomon Ibukunola, Gideon Uba, Nojeemu Alebiosu and Akande Mayowa, who – following advice from their lawyer, Nelson Onyejaka – entered plea bargain agreements with Lagos State prosecutors.

The agreement was upheld by Justice Sendotan Ogunsanya of the Lagos State High Court who was one of the three judges that participated in a virtual court proceeding from their courtrooms.

“The court is satisfied with the plea bargain agreements. I find the defendants guilty as charged,” Justice Ogunsanya said.

She sentenced the trio to 14 years imprisonment each in accordance with the agreement, to commence from 2015 when they were arraigned for armed robbery.

 

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BREAKING: UK Prison Frees Ekweremadu’s Wife

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Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu

Reprieve has come for the wife of a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as she has been freed from the United Kingdom’s prison.

It was learnt that Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu who was sentenced to five years in UK prison, returned to the country on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: Relief As Court Vacates Order For Interim Forfeiture Of Ekweremadu’s Properties

Mrs Ekweremadu and her husband were jailed in the United Kingdom after being found guilty in a case of human trafficking in an attempt to harvest an organ of the victim to treat their sick daughter.

 

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Olaopa Seeks Support For Education At Fundraising For Olivet Baptist High School

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Prof. Tunji Olaopa

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has urged support for education as government alone cannot meet the challenges of the sector.

Olaopa made the appeal in Abuja on Thursday in an address as the Chairman of the 80th Fundraising Dinner for the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo.

While noting that the school was in need of support for development, he acknowledged that the entire educational sector in the country was faced with the same fate.

He said: “To have been established in 1945 and to still retain some measure of its old glory, given what the lamentable fate of public schools in Nigeria, is no mean feat. In another breath, that the generations of we old students, that are here today, are alive to witness this momentous celebration of a school that has so greatly impacted our formative years and all we have become in life calls for reflection. A reflection on the clear fact that if Olivet had impacted us so profoundly, is it not evident that the school now needs us to give back to it, in measure that will impact at this its trying time, in a manner of speaking? And Olivet is not alone in this challenged state, as restoring the glory of the old famous schools nationwide including the more recent, the Unity Schools of FG Colleges and states’ model schools is now the concern of all stakeholders and policy makers. ”

According to Olaopa, public schools and indeed public education institutions are not just challenged, “they are failing on every education achievement parameter: content/curriculum and pedagogy; infrastructure/technology for learning and for school administration; funding and sustainability; quality assurance; teacher professionalism and teacher education; certification, relevance and employability. Indeed, a huge chunk of teachers in these schools are provided and sustained by PTAs, and government is making effort to formalise the recruitment of those who are qualified by government standard within the limit of availability.

” It is unhelpful to therefore keep heaping blame on governments. What the times and tides require is for all hands to be on deck, even as the need for policy innovation and creativity on the side of government cannot be overemphasized.”

While commending the Dr. Wale Okediran-led leadership for mobilizing the different sets and chapters to rise up to the task of lifting Olivet to greater heights, he urged those present at the event including guests, well-wishers and old students to donate gtenerously to the 80th anniversary fundraising.

” I can assure you that every kobo contributed will be justifiably and accountably utilised towards restoring the glory of OBHS, Oyo”, he added.

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CUPP Tells Nigerians To Reject APC In 2027 Over Unchecked Insecurity

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President Bola Tinubu

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the main opposition group in Nigeria, has criticized the Federal Government for its perceived failure in addressing the country’s security challenges.

This condemnation follows the recent massacre of 40 farmers in Borno State by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on January 12th.

In a press release signed by CUPP’s spokesperson, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the opposition coalition described the incident as a tragic example of the government’s inability to protect its citizens.

CUPP highlighted the escalating insecurity across various states in Nigeria, with thousands of lives lost and millions displaced due to terrorist attacks and kidnappings.

The coalition accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of neglecting its duty to safeguard the nation’s security, despite significant investments in counter-terrorism efforts.

The statement called for a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, emphasizing the need for a government that can effectively combat insecurity.

CUPP urged Nigerians to reject the APC in the 2027 elections, warning of dire consequences if the current administration remained in power beyond that year.

Comrade Mark Adebayo, the National Spokesperson for CUPP, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called for a decisive action to restore peace and stability in the country.

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