By Emma Njoku
The Ooni of Ife and Convener, Hope Alive Initiative for Africa, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, visited the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Kuje, in commemoration of his 8th year anniversary on the throne.
Daily Sun gathered that the Ooni met with the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, an inmate at the facility, who is facing a six-count charge of procurement fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The monarch was said to have held extensive discussions with Emefiele, making two appearances at the prison on the day. The first meeting, inside sources said, took place in the early afternoon, while the second held four hours later. The Ooni adds to the growing list of prominent Nigerians advocating the release of the former CBN chief.
Emefiele is facing charges relating to the award of a contract for the procurement of 43 vehicles valued at N1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020. He had spent over four months in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) before he was released, only to be rearrested by the EFCC.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, Emefiele was granted bail with a monetary requirement of N300 million, coupled with the provision of two sureties possessing certificates of occupancy and property titles within Abuja’s Maitama district. However, his failure to meet the bail conditions has resulted in his continued confinement at the Kuje Correctional Facility until 2024.
Meanwhile, the Ooni secured the release of five inmates through payment of their fines and admonished other inmates to be of good behaviour, comport themselves in line with the rules of the custodial centre and forgive themselves. Ogunwusi promised to support the inmates’ rehabilitation programmes by giving materials to aid their skills acquisition programme.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Centre, Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC), Mr Samuel Duza, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, quoted Ogunwusi as saying that his visit was necessitated by his empathy for humanity and his belief in giving a second chance to people to correct their mistakes.
The Ooni expressed joy over the warm reception accorded him and his wife on this special occasion, and urged inmates not to see their incarceration as the end of life, rather they should see it as an opportunity to turn a new leaf.
He said: “I am here for the real people who need hope, your condition today will be history tomorrow, so don’t give up.”
In her speech, the deputy convener, Hope Alive Initiative for Africa, Olori, Dr Temitope Ogunwusi, said the visit was not only to celebrate the remarkable reign of his majesty, but to reflect on societal issues.
She said: “We are reminded of the power of forgiveness, redemption and second chance.”
She applauded the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the correctional service authorities for doing a great job in the reformation and reintegration of the inmates’.
The Controller General, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, appreciated the Ooni and Olori for choosing Kuje Custodial Centre to show their benevolence. Nababa assured them of the service’s commitment to the full implementation of its mandate of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
The CGC, represented by the Controller of Corrections in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics, Ajibogun Olatubosun, admonished the discharged inmates to be good ambassadors of the centre in their future endeavours. Highlight of the event was the exhibition of items produced by inmates of the facility.