A Nigerian lawyer, Benignus Chibueze Mbam, has petitioned the Minister for Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), Haliru Nababa over the unlawful release of a convict, Anthony Okpala.
The convict, according to the lawyer, was convicted alongside his company, Mashuchun International Limited, by Justice Mojisola Dada, on charges of two counts of dishonestly converting to their use the sum of $177,000 and the N6,504,000.00 million, on December 21, 2023, and consequently sentenced to seven years imprisonment, while also convicted and ordered to pay the sum of N1 million.
The lawyer, in the petition, captioned: “complaint against racketeering and the unlawful release of a convict from lawful detention at Kirikiri Medium Correctional Service, Kirikiri, Lagos, by correctional officers and penchant to disobey valid judgements of the court”, however, alleged that some officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services, instead of keeping the convict in their centre as ordered by Justice Dada, released him arbitrarily.
The lawyer therefore called on both the Minister of Interior and Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Services to investigate the racketeering between the Controller of Correctional Service, Alagbon, and the Deputy Controller, of Medium Correctional, Service, Kirikiri Lagos. And to also re-arrest the convict and send them to where he is supposed to be.
The lawyer’s petition reads: “We are the solicitors to Ibrahim Zango (hereinafter referred to as our client) and on whose Instruction we write and state as follows: In light of the level of insecurity in the country today, we write to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities to the ongoing racketeering, taking place at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kirikiri Medium Lagos. In connection with one Mr Benson, an officer of the Correctional Services, who had thrown caution to the wind with the help of other officers to unlawfully keep Anthony Okpala outside lawful custody after being convicted.
“In reference to the judgment of this Honorable Court delivered on the 21st day of December 2023 by My Lord Hon. Justice M.A. Dada (Mrs.), against Anthony Okpala and his company known as Mashuchun International Limited in Suit No: ID/8863C/2019, on the said judgment, Anthony Okpala was convicted and sentenced to mandatory seven years imprisonment, and the company was convicted and fined the sum of one millionaire to be paid within seven days upon conviction.
“On the 4th day of January 2024, by a motion on notice filed and dated 4th January 2024, by virtue of affidavit in support of the motion was deposed to by one Josephine Okpara and was moved by O. Ajanaku Esq. on the 25th of January 2024, seeking the leave of the court for the convict/applicant be allowed to see a medical doctor.
“My Lord did order graciously the office of the Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Alagbon, Lagos State, to carry out a medical examination on the convict/applicant and report same to the honourable court.
“In other of carrying out the mischief conceived between the applicant and his counsel Mr. O. Ajanaku Esq. alongside the officers of the Correctional Center at Kirikiri Medium Prison, where Anthony Okpala was documented upon his conviction, decided to misconceive the order of this honourable court and use same to achieve their personal benefit as proposed by the convict.
“The order of this honourable court was misconceived when the convict was allowed to run around the States of Nigeria, attacking innocent citizens, who had earlier testified against him in the course of the trial. An independence investigation was carried out after information got to our client that Anthony Okpala was no longer in lawful custody where he was meant to serve the prison time.
“Hence our client could no longer trust the correctional service in the cause of lawful duties being obligated to them as required. Anthony Okpala by record was tracked and have been using his phone numbers till dates. His numbers were tracked to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, showing that he has not been in prison for the last three months upon conviction.
“Our client had received several treats via phone call from Anthony Okpala and several people who had also suffered same from him after his conviction had also complained to our client on how Anthony Opkala had been calling them and threatening them, using thugs and assassin.
“We urge you to call for investigation into this racketeering between the Controller Correctional Service, Alagbon, the Deputy Controller, Medium Correctional, Service, Kirikiri Lagos. A question begging for an answer is how can a convict (Anthony Okpala) in the lawful custody could travel with fake tickets to Abuja and several destinations within the country, under the watch of this noble officers? Who have decided to throw caution to the wind on the mining laws of this country, and in contempt, and blazing disregard for court orders on the directive of this Honourable Justice, M. A. Dada to further stop this racketeering among officers of the law in purging the system of corrupt personals whose intention is to tarnish the image of this administration.
“We therefore call that the convict be sent to where he belongs to. We hope that this will be given urgent attention.”
