A member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan,
and the Secretary of the Ad Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime,
Boniface Emenalo, who are being detained at Kuje Prison, Abuja, on a court
order, are enjoying special treatment that includes food cooked outside the
prison wall.
and the Secretary of the Ad Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime,
Boniface Emenalo, who are being detained at Kuje Prison, Abuja, on a court
order, are enjoying special treatment that includes food cooked outside the
prison wall.
Both of them are being kept in a
‘choice cell’ befitting their status as Very Important Personalities.
‘choice cell’ befitting their status as Very Important Personalities.
It was learnt that Lawan had remained
reserved and withdrawn on being booked into the prison by officials.
reserved and withdrawn on being booked into the prison by officials.
Our correspondent gathered that his
relations were making plans to reach an understanding with the management of
the prison to allow them bring in a new mattress for the lawmaker.
relations were making plans to reach an understanding with the management of
the prison to allow them bring in a new mattress for the lawmaker.
Findings indicated that when Lawan
and Boniface Emenalo got to the prison facility, the atmosphere changed as the
inmates on hearing about the calibre of the new detainees, were happy that
their living condition would change during the stay of the lawmakers.
and Boniface Emenalo got to the prison facility, the atmosphere changed as the
inmates on hearing about the calibre of the new detainees, were happy that
their living condition would change during the stay of the lawmakers.
A prison source who pleaded anonymity
said, “Lawan and Emenalo were kept in the same cell, but they have said they
will not eat the general food cooked in the facility. They have made
arrangements to have their food brought to them from home by their family
members.
said, “Lawan and Emenalo were kept in the same cell, but they have said they
will not eat the general food cooked in the facility. They have made
arrangements to have their food brought to them from home by their family
members.
“The prison authorities are not
according them any special privilege, but being a lawmaker, Lawan cannot be
treated like a common criminal because of his status, and besides, they have
not been convicted yet.”
according them any special privilege, but being a lawmaker, Lawan cannot be
treated like a common criminal because of his status, and besides, they have
not been convicted yet.”
The prison officials were said to
have been briefed by their superior officers on how to comport themselves throughout
the lawmaker’s stay to avoid leaving the VIPs with a poor impression of the
prison Service and its officials.
have been briefed by their superior officers on how to comport themselves throughout
the lawmaker’s stay to avoid leaving the VIPs with a poor impression of the
prison Service and its officials.
The Public Relations Officer,
Nigerian Prison Service, Kayode Odeyemi, could not be reached for comments as
he was said to have travelled out of the country.
Nigerian Prison Service, Kayode Odeyemi, could not be reached for comments as
he was said to have travelled out of the country.
Lawan and Emenalo were remanded in
prison custody on Friday following their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for allegedly receiving
$620,000 as bribe from an oil mogul, Femi Otedola, when Farouk served as the
chairman of the committee.
prison custody on Friday following their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for allegedly receiving
$620,000 as bribe from an oil mogul, Femi Otedola, when Farouk served as the
chairman of the committee.
They denied the allegation with
Lawan, claiming that he collected the money in order to expose Otedola’s
attempt to bribe him.
Lawan, claiming that he collected the money in order to expose Otedola’s
attempt to bribe him.
They will spend a week in prison
before the court determines whether to grant or refuse their bail application.
before the court determines whether to grant or refuse their bail application.
Source: Punch
