In Nsukka Correctional Services, Enugu state, broad daylight extortion, exploitation and wanton bribery is said to be taking place on a daily basis.
Popularly known as Nsukka prison, the Correctional Services which is about five hundred metres away from the Nsukka Urban Divisional Police headquarters is known for taking in both hardened criminals and awaiting trial inmates in about six local government areas of the state.
Checks by our reporter showed the Correctional Services which was built in 1926 is gradually turning into a hub of criminal act of financial shenanigans.
WITHIN NIGERIA reporter gathered that within both the four walls of the Correctional Services and indeed the staff quarters that is few metres away from its main gate, staff of the establishment are feeding on the pocket of both the visitors and the inmates, illegally.
Further checks reveal that this illicit act has been happening for more than half decades now without any restriction or restraint by the law enforcement agent.
However, few days ago our reporter took a trip to the Correctional Services to see for himself what is really happening with regards to the alleged bribery and extortion going on in the establishment.
On the front of the correctional centre, two police armoured vehicles with other security cars were conspicuously parked.
Few metres away at the direct opposite gate of the Correctional Centre, the inexplicable level of extortion is happening.
Like a ticketing agent in motor park issuing out bus ticket, visitors at Nsukka prison were busy collecting what looked like visitor’s permit in exchange with N200. It is so barefaced that you will easily be deceived that the proceeds are used for the upkeep of these inmates.
It is already 2:34pm, four visitors were already taking their turn to fill what they call ticket permit.
Pretending to have come to see an inmate, our reporter went straight to the ticketing centre and stood in the midst of both the visitors and the warders.
Looking so naïve, one of the female warders, Bridget (not real name) asked our reporter whom he came to see.
Lost in thought of what he saw, our reporter quickly conjured up a name, praying that such a person is in the prison’s custody.
“I came to see Mathias Odo “(not real name) replied WITHIN NIGERIA reporter.
“Who is he to you? the ever-busy Bridget asked.
“He is my co-worker, at filling station in Ugwuoye Nsukka,” our reporter replied.
“Give me N200,” asked Bridget.
“What for? our reporter demanded.
“Is this the first time you are coming here? she asked feeling annoyed over reporter’s question.
“That is ticket permit fee.” replied one of the visitors.
However, our reporter gave Bridget N200, and she gave him the ticket and a biro. Our reporter was instructed to fill his details which included full name, address, phone numbers, time of the visit and name of the inmate.
In any case, taking his time to fill the form, our reporter saw some other visitors who came, begging Bridget to allow them to see their brother inmates.
According to them, that was the third time they have come to see him that day, but the warder insisted that they should pay N200 each as usual.
Again, as he sat down, observing what was going on, our reporter also discovered that the N200 being collected from the visitors was not recorded anywhere except in the piece of paper which the visitor usually hands back to the warder, Bridget.
“What are you still doing there? Haven’t you finished filling that form? Bridget asked our reporter.
Knowing what he came to do, our reporter took about ten minutes to fill the piece of paper, this time with his own biro.
After filling the piece of paper, our reporter handed it over to Bridget.
“How much are you giving to Mathias? she asked.
“I am giving him N1000,” replied our reporter. Our reporter also noticed that she wrote something on the piece of paper, probably indicating how much the visitor will give the inmate.
However, few minutes later, one of the warders inside the main entrance shouted “Mathias Odo,” indicating the visitor to Mathias Odo should come forward to see him.
Relieved that there is an inmate who bears the name he wrote on the paper, stood up immediately and went straight to the main entrance of the prisons.
With his handsets confiscated at the entrance of the gate by the warders, when our reporter went to see the inmate, one of warders asked him how much he brought for the inmate.
The inmate was so much pleased that our reporter visited, though none of them has seen each other before.
He however, told the warder that he had nothing for the inmate, rather he just came to see him face to face.
In any case, as our reporter was discussion with the inmate, two other visitors who came to see their relations handed over some money to him. The inmate quickly handed over the money to the unfriendly looking prison warder standing with him, who also squeezed the wads inside his fast-fading blue jeans trousers.
The prison warder again asked the inmate if the previous visitors didn’t give him any money, which he answered in the negative.
The prison warder asked me to leave as I have stayed more than five minutes. Surprisingly, one of the visitors to another inmate who came at the same time with me, squeezed some wad into his palm and the warder asked him if he wanted to rather sit down in the passage with the inmate rather than standing up.
‘Oga, you have to go now,” the warder told our reporter.
“But I came at the same time with that man there,” our reporter replied to the warder, referring to the visitor already sitting down with the inmate.
“Moreover, I am not yet done discussing with my brother,” our reporter told the warder.
“Hand over whatever you have for him to me and leave. It is already some minutes after 3pm and we will soon stop receiving visitors for today.”
As he turned to talk to other visitors, our reporter briskly handed over squeezed N1000 wad to his newly found inmate friend and stepped out.
On getting back to Bridget, our reporter demanded for the piece of paper as evidence of payment and expenses he incurred during the visit so that the management of the filling station that sent him will pay him back.
Bridget told WITHIN NIGERIA reporter that the piece of paper has been shredded and thrown into dustbin.
However, our reporter also discovered that not every visitor pays the N200 ticket. Visitors who came with gifts, relief materials and food stuffs to the Correctional Services do not fill any form or pay for any ticket.
It is only poor people who came to see their inmate friends, relations and coworkers that are asked to fill the piece of paper and extorted at least N200 each, no matter how many times he/she has visited for the day.
However, all efforts to get the reaction of the Controller of Corrections, Enugu state, Valins Obizue proved abortive as he was not picking his repeated calls by our reporter.
