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Farouk Lawan & Boniface Enemalo treated as “Very Important Personalities” at Kuje Prison | Reject Prison Food
Media sources have reported that Farouk Lawan and Boniface Enemalo, the two men remanded in Prison for allegedly soliciting for and obtaining $620,000 bribe are being kept in a “choice cell” befitting their status as “Very Important Personalities”.
Lawan, the former former Chairman of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy and Enemalo, former Secretary of the committee were remanded in prison by an Abuja High Court on Friday 1st February 2013. They were arraigned on a seven count charge for allegedly soliciting for and collecting a bribe of $620, 000 from Femi Otedola, Chairman of Zenon Oil.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the allegation, claiming they collected the money in order to expose Otedola’s attempt to bribe them.
According to Punch, Lawan and Emenalo were kept in the same cell, but they have said they will not eat the general food cooked in the facility and have made arrangements to have their food brought to them from home by their family members.
Here is an excerpt of the report:
It was learnt that Lawan had remained reserved and withdrawn on being booked into the prison by officials.
Our correspondent gathered that his relations were making plans to reach an understanding with the management of the prison to allow them bring in a new mattress for the lawmaker.
Findings indicated that when Lawan and Boniface Emenalo got to the prison facility, the atmosphere changed as the inmates on hearing about the calibre of the new detainees, were happy that their living condition would change during the stay of the lawmakers.
The prison authorities are not according them any special privilege, but being a lawmaker, Lawan cannot be treated like a common criminal because of his status, and besides, they have not been convicted yet.
They are to remain at the Kuje Prison till Friday 8th February 2013 when the court will determine whether to grant or refuse their bail application.
