Previously, the Kirikiri Maximum Security correctional facility was regarded as the ‘VIP prison’ for prominent Nigerians. However, the most recent occupants of the Kuje prison include ex-lawmakers, former governors, and popular members of terrorist groups.
Are you aware that some prominent Nigerians like the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Olisa Metuh, and Femi Fani-Kayode recently had brief stays at the prison?
Kuje is so highly-rated that even the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is presently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), had requested to be transferred to Kuje Prison; a request that was rejected by the court.
Here is a list of prominent Nigerians at the Kuje Correctional facility:
Farouq Lawan
Lawan is a clear case of grace to grass. The former Kano lawmaker was charged with investigating petroleum subsidy during the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He fell after a sting operation by DSS exposed him of using the committee to milk oil marketers.
Femi Otedola’s $600,000 exposed Lawan, who was one of the leaders of the caucus that removed Patricia Etteh as the Speaker of the House.
Lawan is currently in Kuje after a court sentenced him to 7 years imprisonment.
Joshua Dariye
Former Governor of Plateau State would not have risked running out of prison considering that he recently got a state pardon. The National Council of States Dariye granted Dariye and 158 others pardon, although, the ex-governor is yet to be released.
The former governor was convicted of embezzling N2 billion belonging to Plateau State, while he was governor from 1999 to 2007.
He was handed a 14-year prison sentence by High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. However, the sentence was commuted by the Supreme Court to 10 years.
Abba Kyari
The disgraced ex-head of the Intelligence Response Team is currently lounging at the Kuje correctional facility over his ongoing charges around his narcotics scheme, and tampering with evidence.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had filled eight-count charges against Kyari and he has been reprimanded at Kuje, alongside some other police officers.
Rev Jolly Nyame
Like Dariye, Mr Nyame is a beneficiary of the controversial presidential pardon of President Buhari. The Taraba State governor between 1999 to 2007 was convicted in 2018 by Justice Bukola Banjoko and the sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2020.
Abdulrasheed Maina
Once upon a time, Mr Maina was the chairman of the powerful Pension Reform Task Force under President Goodluck Jonathan. He was appointed in 2010 to cleanse the system.
In 2012, a Senate committee accused him of embezzling N100 billion. He was dismissed from service after going into hiding.
Justice Okon Abang had handed Mr Maina eight years imprisonment for stealing billions from pensioners.
Mr Maina gained celebrity status after his cat and mouse episode with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until he was arrested alongside his 20-year-old son, Faisal.
He resurfaced after the emergence of Buhari as president. It would be recalled that he was clandestinely reinstated into civil service and promoted, but following the outrage, the government fired him.
Peter Nwachukwu
The husband of popular gospel artist, Osinachi is also at the Kuje Correctional Centre on the ongoing case of homicide.
Last month, the Federal Capital Territory High Court remanded Mr Nwachukwu in prison with the case still ongoing.
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