Headline

Jail Break: List Of Prominent Nigerians In Kuje Prison

Published

2 years ago

July 7, 2022

Editor

Kuje Correctional facility came under heavy attack Tuesday night, leading to the escape of several inmates.

The facility has replaced Kirikiri Maximum Security correctional facility as the ‘VIP prison’ for prominent Nigerians. Some of the current occupants include ex-lawmakers, former governors and terrorists.

Some prominent Nigerians like the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Olisa Metuh, Femi Fani-Kayode recently had brief stinks at the prison.

It would be recalled that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who is in the custody of the DSS, had requested to be transferred to Kuje Prison, but the court rejected the request.

Despite the status of the correctional centre, questions have been raised against the backdrop of the ease at which terrorists successfully attacked the prison and freed inmates, including several terrorists.

While terrorists operated at the facility for hours, a major military formation is in Gwagwalada, and there are several military checkpoints, just 15 minutes from the prison. In addition, major cantonments like Mogadishu, Niger, and Lungi are less than 45 minutes from the prison.

Following the attack, Nigerians on social media had speculated that disgraced ‘supercop’ Abba Kyari and other convicted politicians could have used the opportunity to escape imprisonment.

Here is a list of prominent Nigerians at the Kuje Correctional facility:

Abba Kyari

The disgraced ex-head of the Intelligence Response Team is currently languishing at the Kuje correctional facility over his ongoing narcotics and evidence tampering charges.

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.

Justice Emeka Nwike had ordered Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, Inspector Simon Agirgba, Inspector John Nuhu and Bawa James to be sent to Kuje.

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 14years imprisonment by High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. However, the sentence was commuted by the Supreme Court to 10 years.

Rev Jolly Nyame

Like Dariye, Mr Nyame is a beneficiary of the controversial presidential pardon of President Buhari. The former Governor of Taraba State from 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 8 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 years old son, Faisal.

He resurfaced after the emergence of Buhari. It would be recalled that he was clandestinely reinstated into civil service and promoted, but following the outrage, the government fired him.

Farouq Lawan

Lawan is a clear case of grace to grass. The former Kano lawmaker was charged with investigating petroleum subsidy during the 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.

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 while the case is ongoing.

Headline

Nigerian Burnt To Death In Bangkok Car Crash

Published

7 mins ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

A 35-year-old Nigerian man identified as Daniel was burnt to death in a car accident in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bangkok’s Prawet Police Station, confirmed the identity of the Nigerian national in a statement on Tuesday, May 14, 2024,

Daniel, whose Thai wife came to confirm his identity with the police, died on Saturday, May 11, when his car crashed into a road median and caught fire.

This serious road accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. on a three-lane road near Soi Phatthanakan 53/1, Suan Luang Subdistrict and District, Bangkok.

When officials received the report and arrived at the scene, they found a gray Toyota Vios with Samut Prakan province license plates overturned and engulfed in flames, blocking the middle of the road.

The officers spent about 10 minutes spraying water to extinguish the fire, but the car was completely damaged by the flames.

At that time, rescuers had to use cutting and prying equipment to remove the driver’s body from the wreckage and send it to the Police Hospital for an autopsy. They found a document with a front-facing photo of a foreign man.

Eyewitnesses stated that they saw the car driving at high speed in the far right lane before losing control and crashing into the road median.

The car spun and hit a palm tree with such force that it flipped over and ended up on its roof in the middle of the road.

At that moment, good Samaritans tried to pry open the door to help the unconscious driver, but before they could pull him out, sparks ignited, and the car quickly caught fire.

Headline

How Australian Doctor Treated Own Brain Cancer With Personal Research Studies

Published

5 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

An Australian medical doctor, Professor Richard Scolyer, said he has remained brain cancer-free for a year after undergoing a world-first treatment based on his own research.

The 57-year-old used his own pioneering studies on melanoma to treat his incurable stage 4 glioblastoma following his diagnosis in June 2023.

Scolyer disclosed this on Monday, via his X page, with an update about the experimental treatment alongside two images from a recent MRI scan.

“I had brain #MRI scan last Thursday looking for recurrent #glioblastoma (&/or treatment complications). I found out yesterday that there is still no sign of recurrence. I couldn’t be happier!!!!!,” wrote Scolyer.

“Thank you to the fabulous team looking after me so well especially my wife Katie & wonderful family!” he added.

Scolyer’s diagnosis was revealed in June 2023 after he was taken ill while traveling for work in Poland. He then became the first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy.

Speaking about the feat in an interview with BBC, Scolyer said, “To be honest, I was more nervous than I have been for any previous scan. I’m just thrilled and delighted… couldn’t be happier.”

Professor Scolyer is one of the country’s most respected medical minds, and was this year named Australian of the Year alongside his colleague and friend, Professor Georgina Long, in recognition of their life-changing work on melanoma.

As co-directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, over the past decade the pair’s research on immunotherapy, which uses the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells, has dramatically improved outcomes for advanced melanoma patients globally.

He is also the first to be administered a vaccine personalised to his tumour’s characteristics, which boosts the cancer-detecting powers of the drugs.

After a tough couple of months of treatment at the start of the year – spent dealing with epileptic seizures, liver issues and pneumonia – Prof Scolyer said he is feeling healthier.

“I’m the best I have felt for yonks,” he said, adding that he’s back to exercising every day – which for him often means a casual 15km (9.3 mile) jog.

“It certainly doesn’t mean that my brain cancer is cured… but it’s just nice to know that it hasn’t come back yet, so I’ve still got some more time to enjoy my life with my wife Katie and my three wonderful kids.”

The results so far have generated huge excitement that the duo may be on the cusp of a discovery which could one day help the roughly 300,000 people diagnosed with brain cancer globally each year.

Prof Scolyer and Prof Long have previously said the odds of a cure are “minuscule”, but they hope the experimental treatment will prolong Prof Scolyer’s life and will soon translate into clinical trials for glioblastoma patients.

They currently have a scientific paper under review, which details results from the first weeks of Prof Scolyer’s treatment, but Prof Long stresses that they are still a long way off developing an approved and regulated course of treatment.

“We’ve generated a whole heap of data, to then make a foundation for that next step, so that we can help more people,” she said.

“We’re not there yet. What we have to really focus on is showing that this pre-surgery, combination immunotherapy type of approach works in a large number of people.”

Headline

32-year-old Nigerian Doctor Killed In US, Father Mourns

Published

12 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

A 32-year-old Nigerian doctor, Uzochukwu Davis Igboanugo, has been killed by a drunk driver in the United States of America.

Uzochukwu, the son of prominent Igbo businessman, Chief I.K.B. Igboanugo, the founder of I.K.B Industries Limited, was killed while driving home after work three weeks ago.

The grieving father who confirmed the tragic incident in a Facebook post on Monday, May 13, 2024, said the drunk driver fell asleep at the wheel while speeding on the highway and rammed into his son’s car.

He described his son as a very happy, intelligent, friendly, caring, nice and loving boy.

“I lost my son 3 weeks ago, I have been crying like a baby. A medical doctor ( Ophthalmologist) in America,” Chief Igboanugo wrote.

His post reads further: “An accident victim of a drunkard who fell asleep while speeding on the highway, jumped his lane in the opposite direction and hit with speed force on the driver’s side door where my son was as he was driving home after work.

“We can’t question God as He has the final decision.

“Always pray as a parent not to loose any of your child irrespective of his behaviour because loss of a child can kill any parent.

“Uzochukwu my son was a very nice boy, always happy, intelligent, friendly, caring, loving, sociable etc.

“He was 32yrs old, not yet married despite my nagging, he sacrificed all his time and achieved Ophthalmology which is a very difficult medical course in the history of reading medicine to become a medical doctor.

“Since his death I have been going through mental and psychological trauma as my doctor has been warning me.

“My wife also has not been her self. Pls don’t wish your worst enemy this type of tragedy, now I pray for anybody who has not lost his child never to experience it. It is hellish and a disaster.

“Uzochukwu my son you are now in God’s bosom and working for Him that was why he took you this early. As your soul will rest in God’s bosom in Jesus name.”