Female Kirikiri inmates throw ‘Owambe’ for Lagos Comptroller

Following the recent appointment of Tinuoye Olumide, as the new Comptroller Prisons, Lagos State Command,   in charge of the female yard the 254 inmates threw a surprise party to welcome the prison chief. Already  penultimate Sunday, the lady in charge of the female prison, friends as well as inmates came to welcome  him back to […]

Following the recent appointment of Tinuoye Olumide, as the new Comptroller Prisons, Lagos State Command,   in charge of the female yard the 254 inmates threw a surprise party to welcome the prison chief.
Already  penultimate Sunday, the lady in charge of the female prison, friends as well as inmates came to welcome  him back to Lagos in a wild party held inside the yard.
As at 4.00p.m. when the gig  had gathered momentum, big names like the former Minister of State, Finance, Nenadi Usman who was ‘holidaying’ in the confinement due to her graft allegation, was on ground to say hello to the new Lagos State prison boss.
To them it is a time to celebrate and forget that they are in solitary confinement.
The Deputy Controller of Prisons (DCP), Kirikiri Female Prisons, Mrs. Lizzie Ekpendu, who is the chief organizer of the welcome party announced the birth of a new baby boy the previous week which complemented  the celebration
The baby was named after the immediate past Comptroller General of Prisons, Peter Ekpendu.
She told the special guest that her strongest relationship with a prisoner’s child is one that arose naturally from her seeing a need in her community and seeking out ways to help
The program later turned out to become  more than just a party, but a way to help reform the innates some who are on awaiting trial lists.
“I hope to see little Peter paying more attention and befriending new kids during Sunday school, nursery time, and at adult church, irrespective  of his condition having been born inside a prison yard.
“I know  that as he grows up, other inmates will all go out of their ways to give him their love and  attention. He is just part of our family,” she said.
Addressing media men at the end of the party, the Comptroler of Prisons, Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Prisons  Service (NPS), CP Tinuoye Olumide, appealed to both the federal and state governments  to convert the death sentences of 168 condemned inmates to life imprisonment.
It  was  gathered that 168 condemned inmates are spread across the Maximum Prisons and Minimum Prisons in Kirikiri Town, Apapa, as well as the Ikoyi Prisons.
The Prisons Comptroller who resumed work in March disclosed that all over the world,death sentence is no more fashionable.
He said one major challenge to tackle is  that of awaiting trials.
“ Now  that I have come to Lagos, I would like to liaise with the Ministry of Justice so that inmates who have stayed longer don’t have any reason to be in the prisons.
“Another  thing I definitely want to address is the issue of condemned prisoners. As I speak now, we have a total of 168 condemned inmates.
“Globally as it were, nations are gradually  leaving the issue of killing people even when such persons committed serious offence. I think that is a general thing. I would like to ensure that those who are condemned, their sentences are converted to life imprisonment.
“By that, we would be able to decongest the cell where they are. We have a lot of prisons that can take life imprisonment inmates. That is definitely what we are going to do,” he said.