A petroleum products marketer based in Minna and ex- inmate of Minna new prison, Mortala Musa Ilori has locked horns with the Deputy Comptroller in charge of the prison, DCP Garba Abubakar over claims of maltreatment and food diversion in the prison.
While the Minna based petroleum marketer is claiming diversion of food meant for inmates, torture and maltreatment, use of phones by inmates and fraud in the prison, DCP Abaubakar however described the claims as false, malicious and aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Prisons Service. In a petition addressed to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Prison Service, dated 5th April 2018 and made available to our correspondent in Minna, the marketer said he was remanded in the prison by court for almost two months and released on March 16 this year during which he experienced the prison ordeal.
Checks revealed that Ilorin has engaged DCP Abubakar in a circle of claims and counter claims since his release, accusing the prison boss of selling food meant for inmates He also alleged that DCP Abubakar humiliated him by forcing him to wear prison uniform and handcuffed to appear in court. This allegation was however dismissed by the prison boss explaining that “wearing of uniform to court is part of the rules of engagement and compliance with prison regulations. Ilori proved stubborn right from the gate where he fought with the gateman. We acted based on our rules on inmates.”
Ilori said that he paid N544, 000 in fines through his association, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN for the release of 27 inmates but to his greatest surprise, the prison authority only released 17 while receipt was not issued to him. Abubakar said 28 inmates were released by IMPAN on payment of fines at various courts that had convicted them to prison, amounting to N540, 000, adding that the concerned courts receipted payment of the fines before ordering the release of affected accused persons who benefited from the gesture.
He said, “The money did not come to me and so I couldn’t have issued receipt.” While dismissing allegation of diversion of food, DCP Abubakar said the Medium Security Prison has caterers in charge of food and that it was not his duty to get involved in dishing out food to inmates. “I have a catering officer who receives food order from contractors. He puts on records every food received from contractors. To say that I divert food items is malicious. I did not relate with him personally while he was here in prison,” he said.
