MICHAEL AKINOLA
The killing of an inmate, John Dominic, inside Kirikiri Correctional Center by his fellow inmates may have given an insight into the nonchallant attitude of the Prison officials in various correctional centers in Nigeria.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the deceased, Dominic, was said to have raised alarm and called for help while he was being beaten but no Prison official was present to assist until he collapsed and died in the process.
The death thrown the inmates into apprehension and protest, which drew the attention of top Prison officials and the matter was reported to the Police. The case was transferred to the SCID at Yaba of the Lagos State Command for the alleged murder inside the cell.
The five suspects, Lanre Otuola, 32 Kenechukwu Okonkwo, 42, Akinkunmi Bakare, 32, Chinasa Michael, 25 and Ogboru Godspower, 25, were arrested and detained for interrogation for jointly beating the deceased until he collapsed and died.
The incident happened at Cell 4 inside Kirikiri Medium Correctional Center in Lagos, where the defendants and the deceased were in detention for undisclosed criminal matters.
After interrogating the five inmates, the Police found them culpable and they were charged for conspiracy and murder.
According to the Police, the inmates conspired and beat the deceased who was not properly fed in the prison cell before he raised alarm for help and there was no Prison official to control the inmates in the cell. And so, he collapsed and died in the process.
However, when the Prison officials discovered what happened, other inmates told them he was beaten to death because none of the officials was around to assist him.
Having been found culpable, the Police charged them before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for the alleged murder under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
“That you, Lanre Otuola, 32, Kenechukwu Okonkwo, 42, Akinkunmi Bakare, 32, Chinasa Michael, 25 and Ogboru Godspower, on the 14th day of July, 2024, at Cell 4. Kirikiri Medium Correctional Center, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District. did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Lanre Otuola, 32 Kenechukwu Okonkwo, 42 Akinkunmi Bakare, 32, Chinasa Michael, 25 and Ogboru Godspower, on the 14th day of July, 2024, at Cell 4, Kirikiri Medium Correctional, Center, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District, while serving as inmates did jointly cause the death of John Dominic, an inmate, by beating him up and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
The Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned after the prosecutor, Charles Akinrosoye ESQ, asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Adedayo Tella, ordered their remand in correctional center pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
