Saturday 3 March 2012

Death in Custody as MEND October 1 Bombing Suspect Is Killed



Apprehension over the safety of Charles Okah and other October 1 bombing suspects, as fellow suspect facing trial over October 1 bombing is killed in Prison. Tiemkenfa Francis Osvwo, who was seen pleading his innocence and accused SSS of trying to frame him up in an earlier video, was murdered in Kuje Prison, Abuja, where he was held with other suspects.

PRESS RELEASE BY Festus Keyamo Lawyer to Charles Okah:




Murder of a suspected October 1, 201o bomber in Kuje Prison. Abuja-Nigeria

We are solicitors representing some of the Accused Persons FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA v. Charles Okah & others alleged of carrying out bombings during the October 1, 2010 Independence Day Celebrations in Abuja.

On, Saturday March 3rd, 2012 one of the suspects in the case by the name, TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) died in the Kuje Prison.

His death came on the heels of series of complaints by counsel representing him and his co-accused about the maltreatment meted out on the accused persons by the Nigerian Government in custody.

The sickness leading to the death of TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) started when their cell was fumigated with a strange substance on the 8th of January, 2012, which affected the health of all the four suspects. Suffice it to reiterate that we, their solicitors, raised alarm about that development at the time.

Prior to his death in custody, ‘Gbokos’ had been urinating and defecating on himself in the prison and despite pleas by his solicitors requesting that he be treated properly, no one attended to him.

On the 21st of February, 2012 TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) collapsed in court which stalled hearing for that day but despite the order of the court on the day in question that TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO (ALIAS GENERAL GBOKOS) be medically attended to by the Prisons authorities, no medication was administered on him. It was obvious therefore that the authorities wanted him dead.

May we for the upteenth time resound our alarm that other accused persons in the October 1, 2010 bombing still in Kuje Prisons are facing similar conditions that claimed the life of TIEMKENFA FRANCIS OSVWO.

At this juncture, we are constrained to state that we find it extremely inequitable that virtually all the suspects linked to the Boko Haram bombings have been enjoying bail while our clients, the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombings, (still presumed innocent) continue to suffer indignities in custody.

We therefore, respectfully, call on all well-meaning Nigerians join in the call for their bail and the Nigerian Government to facilitate the release of the other suspects in custody with a view to attending to their deteriorating health before they die in custody.

3 comments:

  1. Justice has always beeen inequitable in Nigeria. Ibori's case is a clear example. In Nigeria, surprisingly there are two laws. One for the North and the other , for the rest of the Country. Fingers indeed are not equal. Suffice it to say that on this 'Animal Kingdom' called Nigeria, some are more human than others.

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  2. unfortunately, we have a kinsman on power but very afraid to offend the north, he will rather kill his kinsmen than let the law take its course. why would the BH members get bail and others made to die in jail ?

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  3. That is Naija for you ...GJ is a big mistake for the country and yes man for OBJ.....

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