Charles Okah, a suspect who is facing charges relating to the October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja and who being incarcerated at the Kuje Prison, Abuja, has accused officials of trying to “sodomize” him.
In an open complaint by his solicitors, Festus Keyamo chambers, addressed to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Okah disclosed the names of the prison officials to include Mr. Isah Musa (the Chief Clerk), Mr. Tanko Gokuje, (the Assistant Yard Master) and three other Prison Warders.
According to Keyamo’s chambers: “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.”
Keyamo further said it was 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” adding that this shows the “despicable level of moral decadence of the officers who are paid to take charge of prison inmates.”
He however opined 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”.